The Primrose Family Dance-off is Back - Enter your family for your chance to win great prizes!

Shine your dancing shoes and break out your best moves because the Primrose Family Dance-off is back! Those of you who participated last year know just how much fun it was to kick up your heels and dance your hearts out with your family. Our friends at Primrose Schools® can't wait to crown another round of Family Dance-off champions- and we can't wait to tell you about it!

With their second annual Family Dance-off, Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, is helping to fight the childhood obesity epidemic. They are partnering with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® to promote physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices and quality family time, things all Moms can get behind!

Here's how you and your family can enter the Primrose Family Dance-off competition:

1.       Record a 30-second video of your family's best dance moves. Don't be afraid to let loose and be silly!

2.       Visit The Family Dance-off site and upload your best take by March 19.

3.       Share your video with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

4.       View and vote daily (you can place five votes per day) for your favorite family dance video!

What would a competition be without prizes? Primrose Schools is providing prizes that aren't only great for your family but for your whole community, with $65,000 in donations to local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals:

·         Grand Prize: $5,000 and Primrose will make a $30,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

·         2nd Prize: $3,000 and Primrose will make a $20,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

·         3rd Prize: $1,500 and Primrose will make a $15,000 donation to a local Children's Miracle Network Hospital

·         All 14 Finalists will also receive a FLIP camcorder

Primrose Schools is the leader in educational child care with over 200 preschools nationwide.  Childhood obesity is a critical issue for young children in America. Dance is a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's routine while enjoying quality time together. The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place."

Primrose Schools & Dr. Z Encourage Families to Give Back

We all want our children to grow up to be compassionate adults who want to help others. That's why we're always on the lookout for good ways to encourage character and development. Our good friends at Primrose Schools, the leader in educational childcare, recommend that parents make an effort to introduce volunteerism at a young age.

That's why Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose, is offering parents the four easy steps outlined below to start their children on a path to meaningful volunteerism.

Here are 4 Steps to getting your family interested in volunteering:

Step 1: Clarify your personal goals and motives for wanting to include your child in volunteer activities. Volunteering is a wonderful way to a share your values with your child. Pick a cause that is meaningful to you and your family rather than one that is simply convenient.

Step 2: Explain the importance of volunteerism and the contribution volunteers can make. A child's favorite question is "why?" Keep your answers simple and concrete. For example, if you are going to volunteer at the food bank, tell your child that "The food bank has lots of food for people who need it, and it will be our job to sort the food so that people are able to find what they need."

Step 3: Choose volunteer activities to do with your children that are age-appropriate. Children as young as three can begin volunteering. At this age they begin to enjoy participation in group activities and are better able to follow directions. Remember that a preschooler's concept of the world is not very large and is usually limited primarily to their home, neighborhood and school; therefore, it is important to keep the activity within the realm of what they can imagine. A few examples:

• Participate in "clean the park" activities. Be sure to have your child wear gloves.
• Take recyclables to recycling collection centers.
• Act as a companion to the elderly in retirement or assisted living homes. Simply listening to their stories and relieving their loneliness provides multiple benefits for the senior citizen and your child.
• Participate in local races and walks that raise money for a charitable cause that you think is important; most races have a shorter race for children.
• Sort food at a food bank. Be sure to confirm that children are welcome to volunteer and that it will be a safe environment.

Step 4: Find a child-friendly not-for-profit. Ask the following questions to help you select the volunteer opportunity that is right for your family:

• Does the organization have experience with and a history of successfully working with children and families? Will the organization provide me with a reference from another family who has volunteered with them?
• Will the organization staff welcome my child's participation?
• Is there a specific job that my child can do successfully? Who will show my children what to do?
• Are there special clothes or supplies needed for my child to volunteer with this organization?
• Does the organization conduct appropriate background screenings on its staff? Does the organization have insurance if there is an accident while your family is volunteering?
• Can the organization provide a concrete example that will help your child understand how his or her efforts benefit others?

To find these and other great tips for parents, check out Dr. Zurn's blog at DrZandme.com. For more information on Primrose Schools, visit www.primroseschools.com.  You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter!

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place."