As children return for a new school year, Hicksville-based Shin's Tae Kwon Do encourages parents to set aside at least 15 minutes a day to listen and talk with children in order to promote positive behavior and prevent school bullying. The 15+ Make Time to Listen, Take Time to Talk educational program designed to help parents and kids talk about everyday issues and tough topics, developed by the federal substance abuse and mental health services administration has been adapted and distributed for community use by the National Mental Health Association.

"Parents who develop a strong relationship with their children through communication are better able to guide them toward more positive, healthy activities and friendships," said senior instructor Mike Donohue. "Back to school time provides parents with a great opportunity to start talking with their children about what is going on in their lives."

Research shows that children, whose parents actively engage them in daily conversations about their lives in and out of school, tend to have better grades, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, have higher self-esteem and are more likely to attend college. Positive parent-child communication includes being supportive, listening to your child, tolerating differences and being understanding.

Shin's Tae Kwon Do's free materials for parents and educators include: Activity Planner, a list of ideas and upcoming events to generate parent/child conversation; Reading List, a list of books for different age children that allows for more conversations; Children's Mental Health Matters, a series of fact sheets on the basics of mental health and resources for more information; and free introductory class and uniform or free school talk for educators.

For copies or for more information, call Shin's Tae Kwon Do at 932-5275 or visit www.shins-karate.com.