Captures Smiles For Safety (NAPSA)—Asparents become increasingly aware of the importance of safety for their children, The Picture People, a nationwide chain of children’s portrait studios, is focusing its annual “Personality” contest on child safety. Along with prizes that give four children a chance to be featured in its national advertising campaign, The Picture People is providing safety prizes and offering Child Safety ID cards in store. This year’s contest, “Kids Will Be Kids,” runs from August 2 to September 14. New for 2003, the Grand Prize Winner will appear in an upcoming issue of Parents Magazine, which includesa free trip to New York for the photo shoot. The contest’s safety prizes will include Safety Ist video baby monitors, Britax car seats and Specialized bicycles and helmets. Safety Tips: Aspart of the contest’s focus on child safety, contest organizers have assembled the following tips for parents: * Photograph or videotape your child two to three times per year. (Childsearch.org) * Collect descriptive information about your child and store it in a central place for easy access in the event of a disappearance. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, via Safechild.net) * Accompany your child to school to ensure the route is safe. Always have them walk with a friend as there is safety in numbers. (California Attorney General’s Office, CAGO) * When shopping with your child at the mall, always know where he or she is, as younger children can be easily distracted and tend to wander. (The Picture People) Courtney Benedetto, winner of The Picture People’s 2002 personality portrait contest. * Make sure your children know their full name, address (city and state), and phone number with area code. (National Crime Prevention Council— McGruff.org) * Make sure kids knowto call 9-1-1 or “O” in emergencies and how to use a public phone. (McGruff.org) * Teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer for help if lost. (McGruff.org) To enter the “Kids Will Be Kids” contest, parents should bring their children, ages 10 and under, into any Picture People studio for a free portrait sitting. During the contest, customers who donate $5 or more to Room To Grow (www.roomtogrow.org), a non-profit organization that provides parents in poverty with baby items and support throughout their child’s first three years oflife, will get a mini-photo album. For more information, visit www.picturepeople.com or call 1800-341-HOURto locate a nearby studio.
