(Berkeley, CA) March 4, 2006—
Habitot Children’s Museum, the East Bay’s hands-on discovery museum for young children, will kick off its annual early childhood safety campaign on Saturday, March 4, 2006. The campaign addresses the high number of preventable injuries among very young children. A series of Child Safety Days featuring toddler helmet giveaways; tricycle safety rodeos and helmet-fitting instructions for parents; car seat safety checks; smoke detector distribution; "Kidprint" fingerprinting programs; CPR and choke at the museum and in community locations. Helpful safety handouts and information about childproofing your home will be available in the museum throughout the campaign.

The campaign, which is sponsored by State Farm Insurance for the fifth year in a row, is intended to help reduce unintentional accidents, "the biggest threat to the life and health of children 1 to 6 years old", according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. "The museum's mission," says Gina Moreland, Habitot's founder and director, "is to insure that young children reach their potential in learning, creativity and socialization. Keeping children healthy and safe throughout the preschool years is basic to that mission."

On March 4th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, officers from the Berkeley Police Department and other enforcement agencies will conduct a car seat safety check in the UC parking garage on Addison St. at Oxford in downtown Berkeley. Child car seat safety regulations changed on January 1, 2002, and officers will make sure children are fitted correctly for their age and weight. Previous car seat checks conducted during Habitot's campaign have shown that 80-90% of car seats are installed incorrectly, putting children at risk. Parents completing the car seat check will receive a free admission pass to the museum.

For future Early Childhood Safety Campaign events, please see the museum's website at www.habitot.org.

Habitot is located on 2065 Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley. For updates on events and programs, please call (510) 647-1111 or visit Habitot’s website at www.habitot.org.

Habitot Children’s Museum is the East Bay’s award-winning hands-on discovery museum for young children. Its mission is to nurture and enrich the lives of young children, their families, and the adults who care for them by providing an environment for early childhood learning and exploration, parenting education and community outreach. Habitot ensures its accessibility for all Bay Area families through its Family Outreach Program that brings more than 8,000 low-income and at-risk children into the museum every year through scholarships, subsidized memberships and free admissions days.

More than 500,000 people have enjoyed the museum’s interactive exhibits, art programs and classes since its opening in 1998. Not just a place to entertain young children, Habitot provides resources and support for early childhood learning, parenting success, and community connection.