To help create a strong family unit with solid values and close relationships, my wife, Ferma, and I have developed a pamphlet entitled "166 Ideas: Be Your Child's Role Model." The pamphlet is divided into four sections. The first is a checklist of com mon sense "Do's and Don'ts" which allows parents to critique and evaluate themselves as role models for their children.

The absolute key to a strong family unit is family members spending time together on a regular basis. Thus, the remaining three sections of the pamphlet are devoted to suggesting ideas to parents on how they can involve their children in their daily l ives. "Place and Go," "Chores and Errands," and "Hobbies" offer well over one hundred tips for bringing parents and kids together.

2. "The Family Workout Booklet: Quality Time Together"

Even before Kipnes Family Publishing was formed, I was feeling the urgency of reestablishing the family unit. In 1997, the Surgeon General issued a report stating that the fitness level of the general population, both children and adults, had reached a dangerously low level. He likened it to cigarette smoking in that our lack of physical fitness was dangerous to our health.

I saw this situation as an oppurtunity to both improve the fitness of children and adults and also a way by which parents could bond with their children on a common goal: improve their physical fitness level. Thus, "The Family Workout Booklet: Quality Time Together" was created. While the booklet includes many exercises described in detail, there are also discussions on specific sports skills, fitness programs, nutrition, self-confidence and the importance of fitness and good health. However, I do n ot refer to "The Family Workout Booklet" as a "fitness" booklet or a "sports" booklet. I think of it as a "family" booklet. While a higher level of fitness will certainly evolve, the goal of the thirty-two page booklet is to bring children and parents t ogether on a regular basis. While jogging, or playing catch, or enjoying a low fat snack, moms and dads, sons and daughters, have an opportunity to talk, exchange ideas and thoughts, and truly get to know each other. As relationships develop, a sense of trust is formed. The trust is critical as parents advise their children on making good choices and decisions on key issues in their lives.

3. "Skills and Drills: The Fundamentals of Basketball and Much More"

The coach in me came to the front in 1987 when I wrote "Skills and Drills: The Fundamentals of Basketball and Much More." I am proud to say that over 21,000 copies have been sold to recreation departments, schools, camps, youth basketball associations, boys' and girls' clubs, YMCA's, and military bases.

"Skills and Drills" is a 24-page booklet which covers every fundamental of basketball in detail. Drills are provided in order for the developing player to improve in every skill area. What makes this booklet unique is that every drill can be practiced alone. However, staying with the idea of family bonding, certainly parents can work with their children as the player drills on shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and defending. The booklet also has sections on strength training, mental training, drug and alcohol abuse, and nutrition.

All of our products are professionally printed and sold in volume to reduce the price per copy. We feel recreation departments, YMCA's, Family Services Centers on Military bases, schools, churches and temples, community centers and large companies (fo r their employees) can benefit from our publications. Just about any institution that deals with family and children would have an interest in these products. We also suggest that these materials, because they are so reasonably priced, would make marvel ous fundraisers or holiday presents.

4. Parent - Teacher Relations

Of all the issues that involve a youngster, perhaps the most important to parents is their child's education. Knowing of the importance of this subject, Ferma and Barry Kipnes (with over fifty years of teaching experience) have developed "Parent-Teacher Relations."

This special guide develops strategies for parents to use in their dealings with their child's teachers. Emphasis is placed on cooperation rather than confrontation and aims at happiness, achievement and success for the child.

KFP considers "Parent-Teacher Relations" such a valuable educational tool that a free copy will be made available with the purchase of any other Parenting idea, booklet or guide.

Ferma and Barry Kipnes want parents to ask themselves these questions. "Am I doing everything I can to make my child feel like part of a family? Am I doing the little things? Did I put my child's test paper on the refrigerator door? Did I attend my child's youth soccer game? Did I tell my child how proud I was to see her or him in the spring show in school?" Taking a child on a 3,000 mile vacation across the country or buying a $1,000 birthday present and then barely paying attention to your child the rest of the year is not good parenting. Parenting is linking up with your child on as close to a daily basis as is possible. The products we have devised are simple fun things parents and kids can do together. When you order our lists, we want you as a parent to say, "Now why didn't I think of that?" You will see over a hundred ideas of things that you can do with your kids that won't cost you a cent or take you out of your way an inch. As we like to say at Kipnes Family Publishing, "The best investment parents can make is spending time with their children."

Do it now when your child wants to be with you, listens to you and admires you. Help your child form and develop the proper values early on, values that will guide your children for the rest of their lives. Spend time with your kids. Don't wait until it is too late.