Third Child Safety Fair is Sunday; Anti-Bullying Program Added

Now in its third year, a fair geared toward child safety awareness will include an anti-bullying program.

On Sunday, March 10, starting at 1 p.m., the Third Annual Child Safe Community Day Fair at Avon Lake’s Troy Intermediate School will continue to bring child safety awareness issues to the community.

Ellis held his first first Child Safe Community Day Fair in Strongsville in 2005.

Avon /Avon Lake Rotary Club and Jeff Ellis’ International Karate Centers co-sponsor this free event which will include numerous local law enforcement and public service agencies, including the Avon Lake Police Department, Avon Lake Fire Department, a representative from American Red Cross of Lorain County and others.

Agencies such as will be present to provide important topics such as safety in the home, stranger danger and Internet safety/crimes against children. This year, bullying will be addressed.

"Not only is (bullying) more common place but more aggressive in nature," Ellis said. "I have witnessed the negative impact on a child's self-confidence/self-esteem as a result of being a target of bullying. It can literally destroy a person's overall self-worth. It is vital for any child to be able to cope and overcome problems like bullying."

At the fair, children and parents will receive a child identification kit, complete with an emergency medical release card, fingerprints and a personal description record with picture that parents take home and update regularly. Members of law enforcement will be assisting with the fingerprinting.

Ellis has hosted numerous safety-related events including the Don’t Be A Victim women’s self-defense seminars. The Child Safe event however, focuses on children.

There will also be a fun interactive stranger danger awareness program conducted by Master Jeff Ellis.

The Bully Proofing Your Child program for children 3^rd thru 6^th grades was added after Ellis noticed concern amongst parents for the growing problem.

"It is an issue that has been growing at an alarming rate," he said. "There is not a week that goes by that I am not hearing from children, parents, grandparents, educators...about this topic.

"I can say that after teaching children and families for nearly 40 years that the complaints from families about bullying has increased." 

Child friendly activities abound

The fair will include plenty of child-friendly activities including an Easter egg hunt, ice cream eating contest, pictures with the Easter bunny along with clowns, face painting, balloons, inflatable bouncer house by Awesome Inflatables of Grafton.

Vendor tables are available for local businesses to inform the community of their products and services. For further information and cost to have a table contact Jeff Ellis at 440 930-2530. There are limited tables available.

This event is FREE to the public. More than 800 people attended last year

The Child Safe Community Day Fair runs from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at gymnasium.