Send your child's photograph to NBC Chicago before his or her first birthday and watch NBC5 to see your 1-year-old on television.
UPDATE IN TIME FOR SHOWING FIRST BIRTHDAY PICTURES:
We now feature these photographs on most days, including weekends, on our early morning news. They could be shown anytime between 5 - 7 a.m. weekdays, and from 6 - 9:30 a.m. weekends.
Note: Photos must be sent at least 24 hours before the day of your child's birthday to be considered for on-air.
Pictures must be e-mailed to Andrea.Williams@nbcuni.com or mailed to:
First Birthdays
NBC5 Chicago
454 N. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60611-5555
Please remember to set your VCR on your little one's birthday (sometimes a day either way from the birthday, depending on volume for a given day).
Video tapes are not available and photographs will not be returned. We can't guarantee that we will get all submissions on air, but we do try! Be sure to print your child's name, parent's names, hometown and birthdate on the back of the photo, or include that information in your e-mail. Give us hints on pronunciation if there is anything that might be difficult to say.
Due to the great number of submissions, regrettably we cannot guarantee that we will be able broadcast every child's photo that is sent.
If you want to order a videotape of a TV broadcast, you can order it from an outside company. You'll need to get specific information about cost directly from the companies: ChicagoNews at (312) 424-4224 or Video Monitoring Service at (312) 649-1131.
Tips For Parents Of 1-Year-Olds
provided by the Early Childhood Division of The Chicago Children's Museum
So you have a one-year-old? Congratulations, and get on your running shoes!
If your one-year-old hasn't found the wonders of walking yet, it won't be long, and once that wonderful feeling of mobility has been discovered, the world opens up beyond his or her wildest dreams. Everything is new and enticing and ...over there!
There are many wonderful ways to encourage the exploratory spirit of your one-year-old, including:
- Read regularly -- read books with pictures of familiar objects, animals and places. Introduce nursery rhymes and fingerplays.
- Talk, talk, talk -- talk about the things that your child sees and what you are doing. Your child needs to hear the rhythms and flow of language.
- Encourage your children to verbalize their needs -- clarify, if needed. (For example: Your child is trying to tell you he wants to read a book and says: "Buh, buh". Rephrase what he is saying: "You want me to read a book? Let's get the book.")
- Encourage building -- one- and two-year-olds love to build and knock down their constructions. Plastic cups and boxes, as well as blocks, make wonderful, safe building materials.
- Let's pretend -- provide dress up clothes, dolls and play tools so your children can imitate what they see others do each day. Participate in pretend with your children so that they can hear the talk and vocabulary that accompanies grown-up activities.
- Object exploration -- nesting cups, containers with lids, buckets -- all help your child relate parts to each other and provide tools for exploration. Do not be quick to jump in and correct your children's exploration. They are constructing their own meanings of the world through trial and error.
- Fill your child's senses -- let your child experience smooth, rough, furry, soft, hard, wet, cool, etc. and reinforce what your child's senses are telling him by emphasizing words that describe his experiences. Use daily experience such as meal time and bath time to focus on sensory experiences.
- On the move -- your child is learning to move his/her body in an upright position, gaining balance and coordination. Provide flat running surfaces and obstacle-free places where you child can move forward, backward and sideways. Moving to music is enjoyable to young children.
- Expose your child to positive social interactions -- hugging, smiling, giving, asking and thanking.
- The toddler years are an important time to 'child-proof' your home. Those lovely knick-knacks need to be placed on a high shelf or stored away for awhile. Check bathroom and kitchen undersink cupboards and remove medicines, cleaning materials, and beauty aids. Even small children can amaze you with how well they can open containers, and in their limited experience may think all liquids are for drinking. Needless to say, any weapon should be secured in a locked cabinet. Close off stairs. Keep your child in sight at all times; it takes only a second for a stable toddler to take off.
- And, don't forget -- you and your child will enjoy the benefits of rest as you both actively enjoy the world through your toddler's eyes.
Looking for a unique idea for your child's birthday party? Click here for ideas!
