BCYF Family Gym is back!

Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) free Family Gym Program is back for the fall season in more community centers than ever before and Boston families are invited to join in! Family Gym is a free, weekly play program that promotes physical activity for children ages 3-8 and their families.  

Family Gym runs on Saturdays beginning October 5 at five BCYF community centers, BCYF Blackstone Community Center in the South End, BCYF Gallivan Community Center in Mattapan (beginning October 12), BCYF Holland Community Center in Dorchester, BCYF Menino Community Center in Roslindale and  BCYF Vine Street Community Center in Roxbury. Start time is 10 a.m. with the exception of BCYF Vine Street Community Center which begins at 11 a.m.  2,400 children and caregivers have participated in the program since it began in 2011. 

Children and adults move at their own pace in supervised activities.  Colorful play equipment encourages individual, small, and large group play. Families can jump rope, play on an obstacle course, do the limbo, or play parachute games or sports. No pre-registration or center membership required however caregivers must participate and remain in the gym with their children at all times. Thanks to a partnership with Northeastern University, UMass Boston and Simmons University, student volunteers serve as Activity Leaders at Family Gym. Family Gym is sponsored by Boston Children’s Hospital and The Foundation for BCYF. 

“We love Family Gym because it provides a safe and fun environment for the kids to exert their energy- especially in the winter when they cannot go outside as much,” said Katie Nguyen, a parent who attends weekly with her son. “We recommend Family Gym to all of our friends. Through Family Gym, we always meet new families or see familiar faces and that's why we try to come every weekend!”

This session of Family Gym will run through November 23. For updated information or program cancellations, follow @BCYFCenters #FamilyGym