There are a lot of ways in which you can find the right agent for your child and also determine whether the agent truly cares for your child’s success both professionally and personally.

One way in which you can find an agent is to simply call around. You can simply call up advertising agencies and associations in your area to find out whether they have any agents that they would recommend or whether an agent is any good.

You can also look through various child modeling books. These books normally have some agent contact details listed at the back of the books or something. They can give you some useful email addresses, phone numbers and websites. You can also obtain some very useful child modeling tips through these books in the process too.

Another way in which you can find a good agent for your child is by simply asking people  you know about casting calls. If you have been sending your child to acting classes and the like, you may want to ask the parents of the kids who learn with your child for their opinions and their experiences. This is probably one of the best ways in which you can find a great agent because you are getting advice from real people who have little if anything to gain by recommending an agent to you. Some people also use the same agent so it is not uncommon for you to pick the same agent that a friend is using.

You can also use the above tips to look for a modeling agency too. Modeling agencies will also try and find you some casting calls and auditions that are right for your child. You should never pay anything to the modeling agency upfront though. The top modeling agencies only charge once a gig has been found for your child. You should also be wary of agencies that advertise that you do not have to pay anything. Usually these are just scams because everyone has to make a living and that agency also has employees to pay and everything. Don’t believe everything you read because there are a lot of unscrupulous people around.

If you follow these tips you can save yourself from a potentially precarious situation. Better to be safe than sorry right?

You should also look around the company website and look for anything that maybe amiss before you send your baby pictures. If they have a free trial period, you should obviously check this out but you should be careful with this and not provide any unnecessary information. You should also read the claims on the website. If they seem to be out of this world and too good to be true, then they usually are. You could also do an online search and check on various websites. This is important because people may write things to prop up their own website. Forums can be a good source of unbiased information also, because people who are on forums are usually real people who may have dealt with the company in question.

You should also make sure that your child star has the necessary skills to succeed by getting them to some acting classes. Your child will gain invaluable skills in the process and through the acting classes, word may get out of your child in the process. You may also be able to form connections with people at the acting school and the acting classes and this may stand you in good stead in the future. You can ask other parents at the acting classes where they are finding their acting classes and what experiences they had with different agencies.

You can also look for an agency and they can book casting calls and auditions for your child. If you know that your child has something special then this could be the route you have to take. It also applies that you do your homework when it comes to the agencies as well because there are some fake agencies. You can also use your network connections from acting classes to discern which agencies are legit and can be trusted.

When you are at a casting call with your baby or child you should make sure that it is well fed and that it had a good night’s sleep the previous night. It can be quite frustrating having a crying baby while waiting in very long lines. It will also endear the child to the directors if he or she is well behaved and not crying. You could also have your baby napping while waiting in the casting call lines. When you wake your baby up he or she will be well rested and be ready to tackle the audition head on.

There you have it. Some tips to help your child to get that role that you know is meant for them.

You can write a little letter to some agencies and some casting directors telling them about your kid model and what job you think they can do. Your letter should be professional and should not include any sort of shorthand. In your letter, do not forget to include your phone number, your email address and you should also include a picture of your child and yourself too.

You should also be informed about the projects that the agents and the agencies are currently working on. This is important because if you find that the agencies are not working on any projects, they are either not legit or they are not really useful for baby casting calls and you should save yourself time and money by not dealing with those people.

You should also write to a lot of agencies and a lot of directors because some may not be looking for your type of kid and some may be working on various projects for baby acting. You should also make sure that the talent agencies you are applying and sending your letters to are accredited and legitimate agencies. There are a lot of agencies out there that are not legit and are just out to get your money so you need to make sure that they are all legitimate before you cough up any money.

Many people are looking for free casting calls and auditions for their babies and kids to go to. With lot of sites that are online today, you have to pay a fee to in order to view their casting calls. There are some places where you can get some free casting call information though. This should enable you to get some auditions for your babies and kids. You should be able to find some modeling and acting jobs for your kids if they are good enough in no time.

One website that can give you some free casting calls is allcastingcalls. The auditions and casting calls at this website are posted by many baby modeling companies and agencies. You should be able to get some good ones for your kid on this website because they are posted regularly.

There is also a resource website which is dedicated to baby modeling. This website is called allbabymodeling.com. It offers various resources which can help parents get their children into acting and modeling. There are also quite a bit of casting call notices and audition notices for baby modeling and for baby acting opportunities.

Craigslist is another place where free acting and modeling gigs can be posted and you should definitely check it out. The website is free so you don’t have to worry about paying any kind of fee.

If you are looking to make your child a star,  then this is where you should really be looking to start with. With your kid model, together, the two of you can succeed.

PREPARE

1.     RESEARCH:  It doesn’t matter who you are or what the part is, do your research.  Learn as much as you can about not just the part for which you are auditioning, but also who is working on the project.  What has the director done before?  Who is the casting director?  What is the storyline?

2.     PICK MONOLOGUES/SONGS APPROPRIATELY:  If you are asked to prepare a monologue or a song, your first instinct might be to pick something that is flashy.  However, what you should do is find something that is age-appropriate and well within your comfort zone.  Monologues should suit your personality and your abilities and your song should be in your range.  One mistake can cost you the part so you are better off playing it a little safe.

3.     STUDY SIDES/SCENE:  Similarly, if the director sends you a side or scene to study before the audition you need to learn it.  First of all, memorize it!  Secondly, read the rest of the story and learn how this scene fits into the bigger picture.

4.     FILM YOUR REHEARSALS:  Sometimes people have bad habits and nervous tics that you can’t see unless you watch yourself.  Also, having the camera on you can give you a sense of what the audition will feel like.

AT THE CASTING CALL OR AUDITIONS

5.     RELAX:  It sounds simple, but most people overlook this.  Movie auditions for kids should be fun!

6.     FOCUS:  Remember what brought you there and outline your goals in your mind.

7.     ISOLATE:  Do not talk to too many other people at the audition.  It will break your focus and could undermine your hard work because you might start to second guess your performance against those of the others

8.     SLATE:  Introduce yourself confidently.  Speak clearly, letting them know who you are and why you are here (to get the part).

AFTER THE AUDITION

9.     NEVER APOLOGIZE—OWN IT!:  Even if you make a mistake, you can still get the part if a casting director likes you.  Show them that you are a professional by sloughing off any mistakes.

10.  LEAVE CALMLY, MATURELY, GRACIOUSLY:  Look everyone in the eye and thank them for the opportunity.  Leave confidently.  You can stick around if you want to (if your child movie auditions) well, the casting directors might be happy to see that you are still around and strike up a conversation.

Juicy Juice has come up with a Video contest called “Juicy Juice Your Kid Did What?” It’s a video contest for the residents of 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Enter the Juicy Juice Your Kids Did What? Video Contest for a chance to win a $5,000 Amazon.com gift card and a $2,000 cash prize or 1 of 9 $1,000 Amazon.com gift card and a $500 cash prize! Eligibility for this video contest is age 18 or above.

Do not apply if you are not the right age and do not reside in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. Membership is free and purchase is not necessary. You can easily participate in the Juicy Juice Video Contest by simply following the below mentioned rules.

1. Register or log on to your YouTube.com/JuicyJuice (“Web site”) You must be a member of the YouTube Web site and comply with its terms and conditions to enter the contest. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to enter and upload your video submission.

2. Your uploaded video should show your kids doing the most amazing, talented or funniest things. Entry must be made by a parent or a legal guardian only. All entrants must have a valid e-mail address.

3. Video can have branding of Juicy Juice, but that need not be the central attention. Video entry must be in mov, .avi., .wmv or .mpg format only and must not exceed a file size larger than 100MB or two minutes in length. Entry must be in English.

4. The video entry must be original and unpublished. It should not be used earlier by any other contests. Being part of the contest means your agreement that Nestle can use your video entry for commercial or non- commercial purposes.

5. Judges will select the finalists from all eligible entries received. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria: 50% originality, 25% humor, and 25% creativity. In the event of a tie, the Entry with the highest score in the originality category will be deemed the winning finalist.

6. Finalists will be notified via their YouTube account. Finalists must follow the directions set forth in the notice, sign a release, and provide a signed release for any other parties featured in or who otherwise contributed to the video entry, and return all to Nestlé USA (Sponsor) as set forth in the notification or finalist will be disqualified and will forfeit any prize, and another finalist may be selected.

So if you have what it takes to be an entertainer, get going and take Juicy Juice Video Contest.  Who knows you might be a star tomorrow! Good Luck!

Baby models

A few of the basic baby modeling audition tips are listed below which can be of great help to parents:

1. Parents play the most important role in the life of their child. It is important for parents to build in confident level in their child before taking them for an audition. Many children may be shy and need a lot of encouragement. Start gently and do not keep pushing if your child resists.

2. Auditioning for parts, in film, television, commercials and modeling jobs can be a testing experience. A lot of patience should be shown on the part of the parents.

3. Let Everyone else do their jobs – Try not to interfere with acting teachers and casting agents. You can watch during the baby modeling auditions, but don’t stand on the side coaching them.

4. Once your baby model is selected, you or your agent will have to submit a photo and resume to the casting director. Sometimes you’ll get an open call where anybody can come down but these are the exception, not the rule. Most auditions are by invitation only.

5. As a parent of a baby model, always show up early unlike a regular job, because it is going to be a different location each time, so always be prepared for traffic, getting lost or looking for parking.

6. Always be available- The last thing you want as a parent of baby model is to miss out on job opportunities because you missed a call, so always make sure you return calls promptly and that agents have your cell phone number.

7. Having a baby model is not an easy task. Do a lot of reading on the various modeling books and learn some tips to make your baby’s audition the best one.

8. Parents must always try and be supportive and protective. Your child will be turned down at most modeling auditions. It is important for you and your child to learn to deal with rejection. Never tell them that they should have gotten a role they didn’t (even if you fell that this is true.) Your child will always look up to you, so set a good example. Baby models have been known not to be cast in a show so that agents can avoid the pushy parents.

9. Research and Work Permit- Before going to any child acting audition, do a little research on the casting company. Make sure they have a good reputation. Child labor laws were set up to help protect your children and to make sure they get paid properly.
This baby modeling audition tips help you prepare your kid for the auditions and if implemented well, these baby modeling audition tips will keep you ahead in the game. Who knows… your kid could be a young star!

When you’re thinking of joining any baby contest you always should think about the baby contest rules! (You can see them below).

Is the Parents Magazine Contest Safe? Yes!

Parents have no fear! Here are some details about the 2009 Parents Magazine Cover Contest:

Any Parent can upload six cute baby contest pictures to the Parents Magazine online photo contest at Parents.com for a chance to win $10,000 cash prize and be on the cover of parents magazine. The 2009 Parent Magazine Contest Judges will choose two of the cutest babies to model on the November-09 Parents Magazine Cover.

These lucky Parent Magazine Cover Baby Models will be Chosen From two Categories:

one for cute kids ages: 3 months to less than two years old
one for cute kids 2 years – to 6 years old.

2009 Parents magazine cover contest judges will review baby photo entries & select 40 semifinalists, 20 from each age category, based on the criteria set forth in the 2009 Parents Magazine Cover Contest Official Rules (see official rules below).

Dates to remember:

July 28 to September 3: visitors to the Parents Magazine Cover Contest website can cast votes and choose their favorite baby contest semifinalists.

*Votes are not going to be used when judging of entries in any round – sorry!

The winner of the $10,000 sweepstakes will be notified by mail on July 8.

10 of the finalists, 5 from the both age categories, will  fly to New York City for a professional modeling photo shoot. Two baby contest winners from the photo shoot, one from each age category, will be chosen to appear on November 2009 Parents Magazine Cover.

(see official rules below).

Baby Contests that Moms Have found to be Safe:

1. theCuteKid Baby Contest – 100% Trusted

2. Parents Magazine Cover Contest – 100% Trusted

3. Regis and Kelly Beautiful Baby Contest – 100% Trusted

4. GAP Casting Call Baby Contest – 100% Trusted

PARENTS MAGAZINE CONTEST RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THE PARENTS BABY CONTEST:

Parents Magazine Contest entry period begins April 1, 2009 and ends June 24, 2009 (the “Entry Period”).  Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m., E.T., on June 24, 2009 to be eligible to win. Parents Baby Contest ends September 1, 2009.  Entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Baby Contest Sponsor: Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

ENTRY: Visit www.parents.com/cover-kid and complete the registration form, then follow the links and instructions to upload up to six (6) current photos of your child into one of the two contest age categories: (1) children between the ages of three (3) months and twenty-four (24) months on the date of entry, and (2) children between the ages of twenty-five (25) months and six (6) years on the date of entry.  Photos must be recent (taken within one month of entry for children under one year of age, and within three months of entry for children over one year of age), taken by entrant, non-professional, unpublished and may not have won any prize or award.  Photos must be .jpeg or .bmp image formats and cannot exceed 3 MB.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject and/or disqualify any entries, subjects, photos, or related materials that are nude, obscene, defamatory, profane, offensive, lewd, pornographic, false, misleading, deceptive, or otherwise inconsistent with its editorial standards, audience expectations, or reputational interests or that Sponsor believes may violate any applicable law or regulation or the rights of any third party.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to verify any element of any entry or related materials and to disqualify any entrant whose participation may subject the contest, Sponsor, or Sponsor’s advertisers, clients, or customers to controversy, negative publicity, scorn, or ridicule.

LIMIT:  One entry per household, per eligible child.  For entries of more than one child, you must complete the entry process separately for each child. No group entries.

PARENTS Magazine Contest $10,000 SWEEPSTAKES:  By submitting a valid Baby Contest entry, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win the Parents Magazine Cover Contest $10,000 Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”). Baby CONTEST ENTRY IS NOT REQUIRED TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES.  To enter the Sweepstakes without entering the Baby Contest, go to www.parents.com/cover-kid and follow the instructions for Sweepstakes entry.  Click here to view the Official Rules of the Sweepstakes.

ELIGIBILITY: Legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, 21 years of age or older who are the parent or legal guardian of a child at least three (3) months old and not more than six (6) years old at time of entry are eligible to enter, except employees of Sponsor and any other organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support, advertisement or promotion of the Contest and their respective agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and members of their immediate families or persons residing at the same address.

WINNER SELECTION: There will be three (3) rounds of judging for each age category:

First Round – on or about July 14, 2009, forty (40) Semi-Finalist entries (twenty (20) Semi-Finalists from 3 months to 24 months and twenty (20) Semi-Finalists from 25 months to 6 years of age)—will be selected from among all eligible entries by qualified judges appointed by Sponsor based on overall appearance of the child as shown in the photo(s) (34%), personality of child as expressed through the photo(s) (33%) and quality of photo(s) (33%).  Sponsor reserves the right to select fewer than forty (40) Semi-Finalists if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries.  On or about July 15, 2009, potential Semi-Finalists will be notified by email and/or telephone, and requested to confirm their compliance with eligibility requirements and to submit by email, on or before July 21, 2009, five (5) additional photos of the entered child taken between July 14, 2009 and July 21, 2009.

Each confirmed Semi-Finalist will receive one (1) Macy’s First Impressions or Greendog outfit by mail on or about August 4, 2009 (See Semi-Finalist Prize section, below).  Semi-Finalists will be invited to upload to the Contest website, on or before August 11, 2009, one (1) additional photograph of the Semi-Finalist’s child wearing the Macy’s outfit.  UPLOAD OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS COMPLETELY OPTIONAL.  Any such photographs submitted by Semi-Finalists will BE DISPLAYED ON THE CONTEST WEBSITE BUT WILL not be USED OR CONSIDERED IN ANY WAY IN THE CONTEST JUDGING PROCESS.

Second Round – on or about July 24, 2009, a qualified panel of judges appointed by Sponsor will select ten (10) Finalists—(five (5) Finalists from the 3 month to 24 month category and five (5) Finalists from the 25 month to 6 year category) from the forty (40) semi-finalists by applying the same judging criteria as used in the First Round to the five (5) additional photos submitted by the Semi-Finalists.

If a tie occurs in either round, the entry from among the tied entries having the highest score in the criterion of overall appearance of child will be deemed the winner.  Decisions of judges are final and binding in all respects.

The ten (10) Finalists will be notified by email and telephone on or about July 27, 2009. To be eligible as a Finalist, each Finalist child and one (1) parent or guardian will be required to travel to New York for a Parents photo shoot (travel provided by Sponsor as part of Contest prize – see Prizes section below for details), departing on August 9, 2009 and returning on August 11, 2009.  Failure to attend the photo shoot and/or travel on specified dates will result in disqualification.  Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify a Finalist for any reason, including without limitation, behavior of Finalist’s child at the photo shoot.

Third Round – on or about September 1, 2009, qualified judges appointed by Sponsor will select two (2) Grand Prize winners, one from each age group, based on appearance of child as shown in the photo(s) from the photo shoot (50%) and personality of child as expressed through the photo(s) from the photo shoot (50%).  In event of a tie, the photos of the tied Finalists from the photo shoot will be re-judged according to the criteria listed above by an additional judge who will serve as the tiebreaker.
PRIZES:
SEMI-FINALISTS
Each of the forty (40) Semi-Finalists will receive a Macy’s First Impressions or Greendog outfit (brand of outfit depends on age/size of Semi-Finalist), approximate retail value (“ARV”) $75.00 and a $50.00 Macy’s gift card.  Gift card subject to issuer restrictions.  Total ARV $125.00 per semi-finalist.
FINALISTS

The ten (10) Finalists will each receive, in addition to the Semi-Finalist prizes, a photo shoot prize package, consisting of a trip package for Finalist and the child featured in Finalist’s photos to a Parents photo shoot, including roundtrip coach-class air transportation for one (1) adult and one (1) child from a major U.S. airport nearest Finalist’s home (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) to New York, NY, ARV $1800.00; ground transportation between airport and hotel and between hotel and photo shoot location; three (3) days and two (2) nights hotel (standard) accommodations at a hotel of Sponsor’s choice (single room, double occupancy), ARV $750.00, and a daily stipend of $150.00 for food and expenses while in New York City, total ARV of photo shoot package: $3,000.00.  Final actual value at time of booking and travel may be substantially more or less depending on point of origin and ticket availability.  Some restrictions may apply.  All other expenses including but not limited to all other meals, beverages, gratuities, incidentals, taxes, and ground transportation are the sole responsibility of the Finalists.
GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
The two (2) Grand Prize winners, in addition to receiving the Semi-Finalist and Finalist prizes, will also be awarded the following grand prize: The child of each of the Grand Prize winners will be featured on the special double cover of the November 2009 issue of Parents magazine. The winner in the 3 month – 24 month age category will be featured on the front cover, and the winner in the 25 month – 6 years age category will be featured on the second, inside cover. Each of the Grand Prize winners will receive a Macy’s First Impressions or Greendog outfit (brand of outfit based on age of winner), approximate retail value (“ARV”) $75.00 and a $500.00 gift card to Macy’s.  Gift card subject to issuer restrictions.

Appearance on the cover of Parents magazine is subject to availability.  Sponsor is not responsible for any circumstances that make it impractical or impossible to fulfill this element of the prize.  This element of the prize has no retail value, and if it becomes impractical or impossible to fulfill this element, Sponsor’s only obligation will be to provide the remainder of the prize.

Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if prize (or a portion thereof) cannot be awarded as described. Sponsor will determine all elements of prizes in its sole discretion. Prizes may not be assigned, transferred, changed or redeemed for cash, except at the sole discretion of Sponsor.  Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee express or implied. Sponsor disclaims all and any liability for the actual provision, quality or nature of any third party product or service accepted by the winner. The awarding of any prize is contingent upon full compliance with these Official Rules.

CONDITIONS/WARRANTIES:  Entrants agree to be bound by Official Rules and agree that if any winner fails to provide proof of identity, refuses to provide required affidavit, is found to have violated the Official Rules or otherwise does not meet eligibility criteria, prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Entrants understand that Sponsor is not liable for injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising from participation in this promotion and acceptance, possession and use of prize. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the contest or in the announcement of the prizes. Decisions of Sponsor are final and binding in all respects.

By participating in this contest and accepting any prize that they may win, entrants agree to release Meredith Corporation, its parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers, including Macy’s, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, claims, injury, loss or damage arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, from participation in this contest and/or acceptance or use of the prize.

Entrants authorize the Released Parties to use their name, voice, likeness, biographical data, city and state of residence and entry materials in programming or promotional material, worldwide, in perpetuity, or on a winner’s list, if applicable, without further compensation unless prohibited by law.  Sponsor is not obligated to use any of the above-mentioned information or materials, but may do so and may edit such information or materials, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, without further obligation or compensation.

By submitting entry materials, entrants certify that such materials are original and created by entrant, that entrants have the necessary rights, permission and authority to submit such materials, and, if applicable, that entrants maintain a valid copyright in the materials.

PRIVACY:   Registration for Sponsor’s Parents.com website is required to enter the Contest.  When you register, we collect personally identifying information about you, including your name, mailing address, and email address.  The information that you provide will be added to a centralized Sponsor database so that you will simultaneously be registered for Sponsor’s other websites as well.  By entering and providing the required registration information, you acknowledge that Sponsor may send you information, samples, or special offers it believes may be of interest to you about its publications or other complementary goods offered by Sponsor.  Sponsor may also include your name and postal address in postal address lists that Sponsor sells or rents to third parties for marketing purposes.  For more information about how Sponsor uses the information you provide, see Sponsor’s privacy policy at www.parents.com.  IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO SHARE YOUR INFORMATION, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THIS PROMOTION.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION:  Except where prohibited, by participating Contest entrants agree that:  All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant(s) and Sponsor and its agents shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to this Contest, or awarding of the prizes, shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in the State of New York and entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Except where prohibited, by participating in this Contest, entrant agrees that: (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or awarding of the prizes, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in this Contest but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any participant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitations or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above may not apply to you.

OTHER:  Sponsor assumes no responsibility for entries it is unable to process due to network, hardware or other technical failures; or any other reason.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of the web site or otherwise in violation of these official rules. Sponsor further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate or modify this promotion if not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, technical corruption, non-authorized human intervention or force majeure.  In the event of cancellation, Sponsor reserves the right to select winner(s) from among all eligible entries received prior to date of cancellation.  The use of automated entry systems or any other conduct that impedes the integrity of the contest is prohibited.  In the event of a dispute regarding online entry, entry will be deemed made by the holder of an established e-mail account associated with the entry.

GENERAL:  Except where prohibited by law: (i) entry constitutes permission to use winner’s entry, name, hometown, voice, likeness, photograph and any statements regarding this contest for editorial, public relations, promotional and advertising purposes on behalf of Sponsor without compensation; (ii) potential winners will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Ownership/Liability Release, Publicity Release, and Assignment of All Rights in Pre-Existing Work within ten (10) days of notification or the entry with the next highest score may become an alternate winner. If winner notification is returned as undeliverable, the entry with the next highest score may become an alternate winner.  By participating and winning a prize, winners release Sponsor, and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and agencies and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability with respect to the prize won and participation in the contest.  Subject to all U. S. federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Void where prohibited.  Taxes on prize are sole responsibility of winners. Finalists and Grand Prize Winners will each receive an IRS Form 1099 in the amount of the retail value of the prize.  The Finalists’ names will be posted on www.parents.com after August 15, 2009. The grand prize winners will be posted on or about October 1, 2009.

Praise needs to be given to encourage children. Judy H. Wright, Parent Educator, author and international speaker says, �Encouragement is the process of focusing on your childrens assets and strengths in order to build their self-confidence and feelings of worth. I like to think of the word encourage broken into encourage meaning I am giving you the gift of courage.�

Through praise we let our children know that we appreciate their efforts not just their accomplishments and that our love and acceptance is not dependent on their behavior. Praising children encourages them to keep trying. It helps develop confidence and imparts a feeling of being loved, appreciated, and cared for.

Any praise for a kid is good but specific praise is more effective. Ray Burke, Ph.D. and Ron Herron in their award-winning book, Common Sense Parenting, talk about using �effective� praise. This means using specific praise instead of general comments like Great! or Good job!

Effective praise addresses the action that your child is being praised for. If your child calls you up from a friend�s house to let you know he will be getting home late, don�t let such an action go unnoticed. Instead of just saying something general like �Good job,� say, It is very responsible of you to call me and let me know you will be late.�� You have pointed out the good behavior and told your son why he deserved the praise. Effective praise is more likely to elicit repeat good behavior then general praise.

My daughter loves to draw pictures. Instead of telling her the picture looks good I try and point out a specific thing that I like. Commenting on her use of color, or the great way drew herself. This increases her confidence in her drawing ability much more than a It’s nice. Also look for other tips to make a confident child.

Try using some effective praise with your children and see the difference that it can make.

Today’s world is competitive and as a result many parents apply
academic pressure. They want to see their child succeed in school, get a
good job, and be successful. Researchers at John Hopkins University did a
study to see how parents’ beliefs about achievement and success affected their
children and the level of pressure their children felt. Researchers found that
children of parents who emphasized external standards of performance such as getting
high test scores, high grades, and winning awards felt the most pressure. Those students
whose parents focused more on internal standards, “predominantly their child’s
understanding of material and improvement in performance,” felt the least amount of pressure.
Although many of these students still met high academic standards. When parents balance
external and internal standards as well as provide academic support and guidance their child
is less likely to feel pressure. But will still realize the importance of academic achievement.

I often tell my son that it is more important that he enjoy reading than be the
top reader in his class or have read the most books. But if he enjoys reading then he is
more likely to be successful because he will read more often. As a result he was one of the
best readers in his class.

Many children feel pressure from parents to be beautiful or thin. Parents who place
excessive emphasis on looks are teaching their child that it is a person’s outside that
counts. Looks are important and as a parent you should make sure that your child is well
groomed and has clothes that they feel comfortable in. But looks are not everything. What
is inside a person is more important. If you focus on your own looks or comment on a person’s
physical appearance rather than personality attributes you are teaching your child to focus on
the physical as well.

While teaching sixth grade I had a couple of girls who felt that they were not thin
enough (although I thought they were both thin and beautiful). So they stopped eating lunch
at school. They were feeling pressure from parents to be physically beautiful. As a result of
the built-up childhood stress, they began cutting themselves. As a parent it is important
that we do not echo the voice of the world and teach our children that it is what is inside
that really counts.

Child actors often feel pressure from their parents, especially during auditions. It is
important to remember that you want acting to be a positive experience. If every time your
child attends an audition they feel apprehensive and scared they will disappoint you it will
show. He will not be able to really act. All you can ask is that your child do his best. He
either will have or won’t have exactly what the casting director is looking for. Sometimes
your child might have an off day. We all do. Don’t dwell on it. Remember he is just a child.

Child actors don’t have to look perfect. Casting directors want to see real children.
If you are calm your child will be calm as well. Allow your child to be herself as often as
possible. If she’s not the type to wear a frilly dress don’t put her in one. She will not be
comfortable and as a result will not shine on stage.

As parents we need to make sure that we are not putting undue pressure that leads to
childhood stress on our children. We can support and guide them without applying
unrealistic expectations.

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“Yes,” says Jeffrey Bergin Dean of Clinics at the National University of Health
Sciences in Lombard. “Many children are suffering from chronic pain in the hands, neck
and shoulders, as well as repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Many of these ailments can be prevented and eliminated with proper attention to posture,
correct backpack use and attention to how and how long children sit at computer stations.
“Poor posture can also cause bones to grow abnormally. Good posture ensures that
the least strain is placed on muscles and ligaments. According to Spine Universe.com
having good posture prevents muscle fatigue and backaches, decreases wear on joints,
ligaments, and bones, and contributes to a good appearance.

So what is good posture?
Posture is how a person holds their body when not only
standing but when sitting or laying down. It requires a person to balance their
muscle along their spine, have good muscle flexibility, and normal motion in the
joints. Those who have good posture are aware of their posture and correct it when
wrong. Posture comes from a combination of good muscle control, strength, and self-confidence.
Those with good posture walk and sit with their back straight, shoulders back, and head high.

What are the common posture problems?
Improper wearing of backpacks causes many back problems in children. Children, who spend a
lot of time at the computer, watching television, or playing video games, often have poor
posture. Slouching while walking or eating is also common.

What is proper backpack use?
Make sure that your child backpack weighs no more than 10% of his body weight. Make sure that
your child’s backpack does not hang more than four inches below the waist. If it does, tighten
the straps. Also it is important to use both straps. Although not cool it prevents neck and
back pain.

What if my child slouches while using or viewing media?
If your child slouches while using the computer, providing desk and chair of the right size
would be one of the ideal posture correctors. Their feet should touch the floor. Have them put
their back against the chair and use a pillow if extra support is needed. If they do use an
adult chair give them a stool for their feet and support their back with pillows. Dr. Kristine
Fortuna, a professor in the orthopedic department at Temple University, also recommends
that, “Children should sit in front of a video game or television for no more than
20 minutes at most.” Then your child should take a walking break.

How do I teach my child good posture?

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