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End of School Can Bring Family Stress

The Family Tree Sponsors Keep Your Cool Family Fun Fair on June 7

To Demonstrate How to Control Stress This Summer

BALTIMORE, May 29, 2008 - Summer can be a fun time for families, but it can also be a time of increased danger with outdoor games, swimming pools, bicycles and other activities.  Since few families today have a stay-at-home parent to care for children during their increased free time, more opportunities for unsupervised choices and risky behavior exists. To help families navigate the long, hot summer with children underfoot, The Family Tree, Maryland's leading nonprofit dedicated to preventing child abuse, will host The Keep Your Cool Family Fun Fair  from 1-4pm on June 7 at Druid Hill Park.  This event also celebrates National Family Month - a unique time to celebrate families and to share valuable information.  Mayor Sheila Dixon is the Honorary Chair of this important event for families.

"This month, I urge everyone to think about the qualities that make a strong family, such as trust, commitment, and communication," said Mayor Dixon.  "The Keep Your Cool Family Fun Fair will be a fun-filled event to help reiterate those important qualities.  It is possible for families across Baltimore to make their homes a more positive place for children."

More than 1,500 event goers will attend a fun, free day of activities, entertainment, and information on how to keep tempers cool in the summer.  Some 40 local organizations will provide resources and activities to ensure a safe fun summer, and the Fair is also a great opportunity for families to learn together. Sharing activities is a vital component for safe, nurturing and healthy homes.

There are 32,000 cases of child abuse reported in Maryland each year - one every 37 minutes.   To raise awareness about the importance of families and Maryland's dedication to preventing child abuse, thousands of pinwheels will be displayed at Druid Hill Park during the Family Fun Fair to represent the lives we can save by preventing child abuse.  The pinwheels are a reminder that Maryland understands the unique role we all play in providing a promising future for children.  

"Summer can be a stressful time as parents struggle to identify engaging and healthy ways to fill their child's time." said Patricia Cronin, executive director of The Family Tree.  "Parents just seek resources and affordable activities during the summer months." Cronin said.  The Keep Your Cool Family Fun Fair will provide parents with the tools they need to build strong families this summer and throughout the year."  For a list of resources on other summer activities for your family, visit our web site at www.familytreemd.org.