KSPS FitKids Day coming to South Hill on Friday

Know someone with a crush on Curious George? Here’s a chance to blow their mind. The mischievous monkey – and fellow luminary Buddy, of “Dinosaur Train” – will mingle with the little people Friday morning at KSPS FitKids Day on the South Hill. The free event also packs in games and activities to get kids moving: parachutes to run under, beach balls to bounce, soccer balls to kick, ropes to jump with, bean bags to toss. Fresh fruit snacks will be available. “The whole idea of this is to help fight childhood obesity,” said Shawn Claypool, outreach and projects manager at KSPS. The event is designed for toddlers to 10-year-olds, Claypool said. KSPS created FitKids, a health-education campaign to help reduce obesity among children, to show children “how cool it is to have strong muscles and minds,” Claypool said. The public-television station airs its commercial-length messages on fitness and healthy eating during its children’s programming. The videos and more information for parents and children can be found at www.kspsfitkids.org. The videos star area 8- to 12-year-olds, some of whom also will be at Friday’s event. —Adrian Rogers