Wild Safari Family Event -- June 26, 2005, 12 to 4 pm. Free activities, giveaways, games, and a showcase of live animals native to Africa highlight the opening weekend of the new IMAX film Wild Safari 3D: A South African Adventure. If you've always wanted to go on safari, but never had the chance, leave your passport at home and let the California Science Center bring Africa to you.

Now that summer is here, it's time to find creative activities that will make your time off special. As of today, the search is simple, with answers just a click away. Chicago-based company Signature Days has just announced the launch of its e-commerce Web site, http://www.signaturedays.com/ . The service allows residents of Chicago and 10 other major US cities to browse a broad range of imaginative summer experiences designed to satisfy every individual or family's quest for fun, knowledge, or personal development.

Trampolines are now rivaling swing sets and sandboxes as the staple in American backyards. While these seemingly harmless structures can provide endless outdoor amusement for children and adults, they can also cause serious injury -- and in some cases even death -- if proper precautions are not taken. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), backyard trampolines sent more than 211,000 kids between the ages of 0 and 19 to hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics in 2003, translating into nearly $4.2 billion in medical, work-loss, pain and suffering and legal costs. The number of trampoline injuries has escalated by more than 13,500 from the year 2002 to 2003: an increase of almost seven percent. Because nearly all of these injuries occurred on trampolines in private home backyards, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) does not recommend recreational use of trampolines, and stresses the importance of safety and adult supervision for those who elect to use trampolines this summer.

A survey commissioned by Toly and conducted amongst more than 3,800 people - primarily mothers - showed that at least 59% of all parents look for a cleaner cubicle if they find a dirty toilet seat. 24% of all parents will do the best under the circumstances and put their toddler on the dirty toilet seat. The lowest score by the parents who participated in the survey was given to the hospitality sector.

The Advertising Council, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), launched today a series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation and to help teenage girls better protect themselves against online sexual predators. The new PSAs are the second installment of the campaign, which began in May 2004, and debut this month to coincide with Internet Safety Month.

As the last bell rings at schools across the country, parents are gearing up to take on the challenge of keeping learning alive for their children during the long weeks of summer vacation. Studies show that teachers spend approximately one month every fall re-teaching core concepts because children forget up to 25 percent of their reading and math skills from the previous year's learning. Award-winning teacher Brian Freeman, as recognized by the National Education Association (NEA), Wal-Mart and the Disney Corporation, sees summer as the perfect chance for parents to transform traditional summer activities into learning

Now that the calendar has hit June, schoolchildren across the country have begun their official countdown to summer break, pushing thoughts of academics to the back of their minds. While kids' first priority is play, educational stimulation is a concern amongst their parents. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by StrategyOne on behalf of VTech(R) Electronics North America, most parents (97 percent) acknowledge the importance of keeping kids' minds active during the summer break, yet only 17 percent have enrolled their children in an educational camp or activity. To help bridge the summer activity gap, the introduction of V.Smile Pocket(TM) gives parents and kids a fun and educational solution they can both agree on.

Pampers(R), a trusted name in baby and toddler care for more than 40 years, surrounds parents with easy-to-access information regarding their babies' and toddlers' health, development and well-being. With both online and offline resources and long-term relationships with respected parenting resources -- including nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop -- Pampers has become a brand that parents look to for support and information as they embark on the thrilling journey of parenthood.

Goad International is changing the destinies of many of Orlando's inner city children with a proven program. (http://www.goadintl.org/) Giving Hope Academy - Life Skills Training. This twelve-week program, for 10- to 14-year old boys and girls, is designed to lay the foundations of basic human values to empower at-risk children to live happy, successful lives as productive members of society.

McDonald's Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals are bringing the silver screen to life with imaginative toys from the new live action Dimension Films movie, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D, releasing in theaters June 10. Beginning June 10 - July 7, 2005, McDonald's youngest guests will receive one of eight exciting toys inspired by the film with the purchase of a Happy Meal(R) or Mighty Kids Meal(R), at participating restaurants nationwide, while supplies last. Imaginations will soar as kids recreate their favorite movie scenes and discover their own fantasy-driven adventures

Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) and Time Inc.'s Parenting magazine today announced plans for the TIGER POWER(TM) Triathlon -- a five-city event to help educate parents and children about the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Held at major zoos in Fort Worth, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the TIGER POWER(TM) Triathlon presented by Kellogg Company and Parenting magazine provides fun and games that encourage physical activity and highlights the "kid-critical" benefits of Kellogg's Tiger Power as a good source of calcium, protein and

A new website and a public service announcement that are designed to help parents make informed entertainment choices for their families were unveiled today by the Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA). The website (www.erlam.org) provides information in multimedia formats about: the motion picture rating system; the computer and video game rating system; the music labeling system; and the entertainment ratings and labeling policies of motion picture theatres, video stores, computer and video game retailers, and music retailers. The public service announcement, which will run on in-store monitors in approximately 5,000 video stores, reminds parents that the movie and video game ratings systems and music labeling systems exist to help them guide their children's entertainment consumption.

Toys "R" Us today announced a list of summer toys, games and books that are sure to keep kids and parents happy this summer. This "Best of Summer" list provides parents with new and classic items that will help kids stay active and occupy young minds during the fun-filled days of summer. All items featured on this list are available either at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide or online at http://www.toysrus.com/.

The currently accepted statistics for numbers of children who live in foster care and are eligible for Medicaid may seriously underestimate the actual figure, according to a new analysis by pediatric researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The study also reinforces previous findings that significant numbers of children in foster care are failing to receive needed health care services.

Summer time is a wonderful time of year; children and parents look forward to outdoor activities at the pool, lake and beach. Yet accidents can happen if families take a vacation from safety. The good news is that most water tragedies can be prevented, if everyone remembers the basic rules of water safety.

More than twenty years ago, a group of employees at home delivered print advertising leader ADVO, Inc., all came to work with the same nagging thought. The previous evening, they had each been emotionally moved to tears by the landmark television movie "Adam," which told the tragic story of the abduction and murder of John Walsh's son, Adam

Nearly 2.7 Million Children Will Be Rushed to Hospital Emergency Rooms This Summer With Injuries from Accidents. Research Shows Parents Must Proactively Role Model Safe Behavior During Outdoor Fun to Protect Children Riding Bikes, Playing Around Water, and Crossing Busy Streets.

Multimedia Tutorial Services, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: MMTS) , well known for its flagship math tutorial programs, Math Made Easy(TM), announces the launch of its online tutoring service using its recently developed proprietary technology. Multimedia's Tutorial Channel will provide high quality live professional tutoring in the convenience of the student's home or at a school's facility at an affordable price -- taking the company to a new level in the delivery of personalized tutoring. Through this special personalized service, tutors will be available for as little as $15 per session. Now, there is a substantially lower-priced alternative to the high cost of in-person tutoring, which can exceed $100 per session.

Milliman, Inc., one of the premier global consulting and actuarial firms, announced today that average medical spending for the "typical American family of four" reached $12,214 in 2005. The finding is contained in the first annual Milliman Medical Index (MMI). The MMI measures average yearly healthcare costs when the family of four is covered by an employer-sponsored Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). The new Milliman study determined that the average annual medical cost for a family of four increased by 9.1% from 2004 to 2005. The average annual rate of increase for the four year period 2001-2005 was 9.8%

Go ahead! Toss that open bottle of grape juice and bowl of gravy on your beautiful new carpeting. Kathy Ireland and Shaw Industries, two of the giants of the carpeting and flooring industry, are expanding their association to make affordable wall-to-wall safe from stains ... as long as it's from the revolutionary new ClearTouch carpet collection.

Come traffic or high gas prices, nothing stands in the way of Southern Californian's summer road trips. While inflating gas prices force motorists to downsize their long-distance travel vehicles, Mr. Mobile Electronics comforts cramped passengers, ensuring that there's no need to downsize on the entertainment features that save road trips from potential monotony. With the all-inclusive Top-Five 'Must-Have' Mobile Electronics list for the 2005 road trip season, Mr. Mobile Electronics guarantees more pleasurable travel for families, friends and lone-riders.

Traffic safety experts today called on parents to regulate their teens' time on the road more closely this summer, as the end of the school year marks a time when inexperience behind the wheel turns into injury and death for many teenagers.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and State Treasurer Robert P. Casey, Jr. today commended the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for its unanimous approval of historic changes to Pennsylvania's subsidized child care program. The changes will give more than 100,000 families in the program better access to stable, affordable, high-quality child care. Rendell and Casey, who have worked together for several years to enact these improvements, called the vote a victory for children in low-income working families and the child care programs that serve them.

Summer is around the corner, and so is another season of library summer reading programs. Same thing, different year. Another cute-kids-amused-at-the-library, slow-news-day photo op. But wait! It doesn't have to be that way! Why? Because summer library programs are important to kids, families, schools, and employers. Based on very real educational and social skill-building techniques, summer reading activities meet a serious need and have a long-term impact on kids' development, their learning skills, and our local, regional and national economic strength.

Problems with potential disease- carrying needles and lancets are coming to light across the country. Needlestick attacks and sightings are not uncommon, but an increased number of reports were made soon after the April 27 Philadelphia incident, where an elementary school student brought her mother's test needle to school and injured 19 fellow students. This attack brought the issue of needlestick responsibility and safe needle disposal to the national forefront in a dramatic and powerful way. Safeguard Medical Technologies is working alongside the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal to devise safe, efficient solutions to combat the epidemic of tainted needles entering the American waste stream.

Sign up your little ones entering grades 1 - 2 to become Hip High Historians this summer with a day camp at the Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda. Kids will learn Lake County history with "Mastodon Adventure Hunt" offered June 13, "Native American Stories and Crafts" offered June 14, "Native American Tools" offered June 15, "French Fur Traders" offered June 16 and "Pioneer Homesteads and Games" offered June 17. Sign up your kids for one day or for the full week.

Parents of kids four and five years old are invited to join the Lake County Forest Preserves for a summer camp where parents or caregivers and their little ones discover the world of nature together. Knee-High Naturalists is a chance to share wide-eyed amazement with your little one while exploring the outside world. The camp is offered at Ryerson Woods near Deerfield, Van Patten Woods near Wadsworth, Lakewood near Wauconda, and Greenbelt near North Chicago. Camps at Independence Grove near Libertyville have filled to capacity and are no longer available.

CHICAGO-On Saturday, May 21, 2005 from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. families throughout Chicagoland will be able to immerse themselves in science and nature at the 3rd annual "Science. It's Everywhere!" festival in Jackson Park. Located just south of the Museum of Science & Industry, the festival will feature hands-on exhibits from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Park District, Lincoln Park Zoo, Field Museum and live reptiles and amphibians from the Chicago Herpetological Society. Families will have the opportunity to hear nature tales from storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis and experience the performances of puppet shows from the Jabberwocky marionettes.