NASCAR Kids: Start Your Engines!

(MS) - What mom or dad hasn't searched high and low for family-friendly games and toys that will also appeal to their children? When faced with aisles of toys at the store, it's not so easy to determine what toys will engage creative play and appeal to kids' likes and hobbies. The answer could be to simply look to the pastimes the entire family shares - like sports.

Sports fans develop their love of the game as young children, learning how to root and cheer along with fathers, mothers, brothers or other family members. The most popular spectator sport in the U.S., NASCAR now counts one out of every three Americans as fans. That's 75 million NASCAR fans! Such a large number of the young fan base is a chief reason Shelcore, a leading manufacturer of infant and preschool toys for over 30 years, is partnering with the racing giant to offer their own, unique NASCAR licensed toys for preschoolers and their parents interested in the sport.

Children can share with their NASCAR-loving parents the thrill-a-minute appeal of professional racing right in their very own homes with the Wacky Action Driver® center. Putting their hands on the wheel and turning the key while listening to the engine begin to roar, children can get a glimpse of what it's like to be racing drivers Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon®. Turn signals, shift handles and horns add to the realistic feel children can expect with their driving center.

For parents looking to get in on the action with their children, perhaps a turn at the Remote Control Racer® might be more up your alley. With a two-button remote controlling movements both forward and backward, the Remote Control Racer® is an ideal first remote control car for younger NASCAR fans. Available in both Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon® models, parents can purchase both models and race their children just like the drivers do on racetracks across the country.

When they're not busy playing with toys, parents and children alike can certainly share their mutual love of racing in a number of other ways as well.

· Attend a race. As NASCAR continues to experience growth in its fan base, so too do its geographic horizons continue to expand. NASCAR now sanctions 1,500 races at more than 100 tracks in 35 states, as well as additional races in Mexico. Such an abundance of venues makes NASCAR arguably the most accessible of all professional sports. With the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, the NASCAR Busch Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR offers a multitude of choices for families looking for a night out on the town.

· Spend some quality time at home. NASCAR is now the second-rated regular season sport on television, broadcasting in more than 150 countries and reaching more than 75 million fans. Families can easily spend some quality time together and enjoy the sport in the comfort of their home.

It's time to get revved up about having some family fun with NASCAR. For more information on Shelcore and the new NASCAR line of toddler toys, visit your local Toys R Us or www.shelcore.com. To find a race near you, visit www.nascar.com.

C2006 HGL, LLC The name, likeness and signature of Jeff Gordon and the likeness of the #24 DuPont Chevrolet are used under license granted by HGL, LLC.

CAPTION: Kids of all ages can enjoy the fun of NASCAR with toys that celebrate the sport.

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Keep Safety In Mind With Halloween Hijinx

(MS) - It's that time of year when ghosts and ghouls frolic with witches and vampires. Towns are transformed by jack-o-lanterns offering their Cheshire cat grins, while homes are awash in Autumn hues and dotted with spider webs and garden gravestones.


Halloween is a magical time for kids, but it's also a time of year where safety should be as much a priority as collecting candy.

Roughly 40 million costume-clad tricksters, ranging in ages from 5 to 14, take to the streets each year in search of Halloween booty. With so much volume in areas across the country on one particular day, and the naivete of this target age group, the responsibility falls on parents and other well-minded adults to ensure Halloween is a safe time for trick-or-treaters. There are measures to take whether you're manning the door or escorting the troops around town, in addition to general tips to heed. Check off each item as you complete the task.

SCARE TACTICS

In advance of Halloween, follow this advice.

• Help children choose costumes that will be safe. Hems should be reasonably cut so that tripping will not occur, and proper footwear should be worn.
• Masks can be hot and obscure vision. Consider water-based, hypoallergenic face paints instead. Use caution when applying around the eyes.
• Stock up on glow sticks or flash lights children can carry. This way they'll be able to illuminate the way when dusk falls. They'll also be more visible to other pedestrians and drivers. Inexpensive flash lights are often sold at home centers and supermarkets. What's more, they typically come in orange - perfect for Halloween.
• Map out an area that the children are allowed to visit, one you feel is safest. Set curfews. One safe option is to plan to take trick-or-treaters to a shopping or strip mall, where store owners often oblige candy-seeking children. It's well lit and public enough to improve the safety odds.

HOUSE OF HORRORS?

While a home can be decked out to fit with the Halloween theme, it should also be safe enough to welcome visitors to the door.

• Take the time to identify and remove tripping hazards leading to the doorway. These may include flower pots, decorations, garden hoses, etc.
• A spooky appeal is one thing, but your front door and walkway should be well lit enough for trick-or-treaters to make their way safely.
• Animals may be extra jumpy or weary on Halloween - they're simply not used to the added activity. Keep your pets locked safely in another room so they won't lunge for the door, or worse, get outside.
• Consider purchasing non-food fun treats for those who come a-calling. They'll be safer and more fun alternatives to sugar-laden candies. Or, healthy, individually wrapped foods can be another unique idea.
• Keep a first aid kit fully stocked and nearby in the event of accidents. It is also a good idea to learn CPR and The Heimlich Maneuver as extra precaution for children who are gobbling up treats en route to your door.

HAUNTING THE 'HOOD

It's easier to control safety at home, but while out and about, there may be inadvertent dangers.

• Explain that children should remain on the sidewalk or illuminated paths. They should know the danger of darting out into the street or across driveways and alleys. Drivers can have a difficult time making out children in the twilight.
• Obey all local traffic and pedestrian regulations, such as crossing at crosswalks.
• Assign a chaperone, either you or perhaps an older sibling, who can accompany younger children. Don't let young kids go out alone.
• Children should not enter the homes of strangers. Be sure they are aware of this rule.
• Inform children not to indulge in their treats before they get home.

AFTER THE PILLAGING

Once trick or treating is over, the safety measures continue.

• Treats need to be thoroughly checked by an adult when children get home. Tampering is rare, but proper precautions should always be taken.
• Divide up the candy so that it can be enjoyed over the course of days following Halloween, and not just gorged on the day after.
• Make sure treats are age-appropriate, and keep candy out of the reach of young children. Some may pose a choking hazard.

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halloween, hijinx, kids, horror, children

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