NEW YORK, NY - December 20, 2006 - Right now, 300 million people are desperately searching for the right gift or making resolutions that even they know won't last more than a week into the New Year. Wouldn't it be great if there were a gift that lasted all year - and didn't cost a cent?

The 124-year-old national children's charity KidsPeace and the author of a new book, "Manners I. Care," are teaming up to offer weary, overstressed families a different idea for a holiday gift or New Year's resolution - a pledge to focus on and improve their children's - and their families' - lives by helping to improve their manners. This is not, experts say, just a "nice" thing to do. According to child crisis specialists, manners are more than the social glue that holds our society together. Good manners and behavior can greatly improve the quality of our lives and bad manners and behavior can often be signs that something is amiss.

To help parents aid their children in developing better behavior and discover the sometimes unseen, underlying causes of less-than-perfect behavior, such as increasing stress and unsuspected physical or emotional problems, David Bruce, author of the new book, "Manners I. Care," and child development experts at KidsPeace are available to give out lively and positive tips on how to improve family life from the inside out.

"Kids are under lots of stresses today and these often come out in they way they act," says Dr. Lorrie Henderson, child expert and chief operating officer for KidsPeace. "We've developed some simple ways adults and children can start making their lives healthier and happier - not just for the holiday season or as a resolution for the New Year, but for forever".

Free web resources for kids and families are available at www.kidspeace.org , www.TeenCentral.net and www.familymonth.net , which lists a number of Children's Manners Tips. Please call for interviews.

KidsPeace is a 124-year-old national children's crisis charity dedicated to giving hope, help, and healing to children facing crisis. Based in Bethlehem, PA with more than 50 centers nationwide, KidsPeace directly helps thousands of children a day to overcome the crises of growing up. Supported by VIP leaders including its national spokesperson Leeza Gibbons and child safety and self-esteem icon RETRO BILL, KidsPeace helps millions more each year through prevention and awareness programs. KidsPeace was named "The Outstanding Organization" of its kind in the country by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children and was called "a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere" by the late, nationally renowned child and family expert, Dr. Lee Salk.

KidsPeace

KidsPeace

KidsPeace is a 124-year-old national children's crisis charity dedicated to giving help, hope and healing to kids facing traumas, depression, eating disorder, abuse, and the stresses of modern life. Founded in 1882 in Bethlehem, Pa., KidsPeace helps some 4,000 children a day at 65 centers nationally and millions more through public education and outreach with the support of its National Spokesperson Leeza Gibbons, Harvard's Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Brown University child development pioneer Dr. Lewis P. Lipsitt, national children's safety and self-esteem icon Retro Bill, and other notables. KidsPeace was called "the outstanding organization" of its kind by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children and "a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere" by family expert Dr. Lee Salk.

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