Choosing the Best First Car for a New Driver

Photo: MOTOsafety

Getting your driver’s license is an important milestone for teenagers. It’s the first taste of real independence, but a bittersweet moment for parents, who’ve spent countless hours playing chauffeur to various appointments, games, practices, and other commitments.  Teen drivers will quickly learn just how big a responsibility is to get behind the wheel.  Safety (of the driver, passengers, and other drivers) is the main priority, not a cool car or impressing your friends.

If you’re shopping for a reliable new or used car for your teen driver, look at the following:

Safety features. They can vary widely, but most models come with the following basic safety gear:

·         Seat belts

·         Airbags (front-side airbags have been standard on all new cars since 1998)

·         Anti-lock brakes

·         Traction control

Of course, the newer the car, the more safety features it will have.  “More” isn’t always better, but when it comes to your vehicle, you really can never be too safe. Talk to your new driver about the importance of everyone in the car wearing a seat belt (this simple act alone can protect them from serious injuries or worse) and using the other features as needed.

Price. A generation or two ago, parents passed their car down to their new driver and bought upgraded wheels for themselves. That’s not always the case today, as many new drivers often get a brand-new car from Mom and Dad.  Whichever you choose, parents want a vehicle that’s not only safe, but cost-efficient (unfortunately, most new drivers won’t get the brand-new sports car right away).  Models like the Honda Civic and Toyota Celica are common first cars for new drivers, as they are reliable, with good safety records, and usually don’t put too much of a strain on the average household budget.

Gas mileage.  Longtime drivers know to keep a close eye on gas prices; new drivers will quickly learn why their parents stress about it so much. It will depend on the type of vehicle you drive, but usually 25MPG (miles per gallon) is considered good gas mileage; electric or hybrid vehicles usually average 40 to 50 MPG. This is a good question to ask the car dealer or person who’s selling the car.

You always remember your first car. Help your teen driver create happy memories by choosing one that’s safe and reliable.

What other tips would you add for new drivers buying their first car? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

How to Get (and Keep!) Kids Reading This Summer

What kid doesn’t love summer vacation—almost three months of free time, not having to get up early, and, best of all, no homework!  These relaxed days are great, but they can have a negative impact on kids’ reading skills, which could set them back when they return to school this fall. There’s even a name for it—the “summer slump.”

But don’t worry. There are lots of ways to encourage kids to keep reading through the lazy days of summer.  If it helps, remind them that summer is a great time for them to read what they actually want to read (so comic books and graphic novels are OK!), and not just something assigned by a teacher, with a quiz to follow.  This fact all by itself might encourage them to put down the gaming control and pick up a book. But if they’re not so easily convinced, some of these other ideas might work:

Sign them up for story time or a reading group.  Libraries are a real life saver for parents during the summer. They usually hold several programs all year long, but step up their programming even more during summer break. Take advantage of them. Young kids usually love story time, which often includes a story and some type of story-related craft, and a snack.  Some libraries have book clubs or reading groups for older kids, where their selections can run the gamut from. graphic novels to the latest middle grade or YA release. This is a great way for kids to stay in contact over the summer, meet new friends, and discuss what they liked or didn’t like about a certain book.

Choose a book to read and discuss together. You and your child probably have those few favorite books that you read together over and over again; or, choose one that you can both agree on. Something like The Book Thief, which is technically a young adult novel but easily appeals to adults, or a classic like Charlotte’s Web, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, or of course, any of the popular series, like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, or The Princess Diaries, which gives you quite a few books to talk about!

Read together every night. Stories are a staple of most bedtime routines, and one of the most rewarding habits you can develop in your child. Whether it’s a simple book that teaches the basics like counting, colors, or the alphabet, a board book with bright illustrations, or a longer picture book, reading together will quickly become a favorite nighttime activity for both parents and children.

Read the book version of a favorite movie and compare the two. Kids love their movies, and fortunately, some of the most popular releases are based on books.  From the recent versions of Jurassic World and Peter Rabbit to classics like Mary Poppins and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or something in between like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, ask the helpful staff at your local library for recommendations of films adapted from books to keep your child reading all summer—the time will fly by!

How do you keep kids reading during the summer? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Great Reasons to Unplug and Get Outside

Photo: Lifewire.com

If you’re like most of us, your wireless device is practically attached to your body. Did you ever stop to think how many times you look at your phone every day? Not necessarily doing anything on it, like checking email, hopping on social media, or playing a game…just looking at it. A recent study completed by Deloitte found that the average American checks their phone (yes, just looks at it) an average of 46 times a day—collectively, that’s 8 billion times a day.  

Just think about that for a minute.

Smartphones and other devices have become ingrained in our everyday lives, but taking a break from them now and then is good for our overall health. So now that summer is here and there’s plenty of daylight, see what a difference it makes when you look away from your screen and get outside for a few hours. If you need more convincing, below are a few reasons why getting outside is good for you:

Vitamin D. Too much sun exposure can be harmful, but getting some outside time actually helps your body produce vitamin D, an essential element for good bone and muscle health. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of long-term health problems, including heart disease, cognitive impairment in older adults, and even cancer.  

Stress reliever. Plain old fresh air and sunshine can help lower your blood pressure, and doing some sort of outdoor activity, like taking a walk or working in a garden, is a good form of exercise. Have you ever gotten angry over something you saw on social media? Do you really want to add more stress to your life? You might be surprised how much taking a break from social media or curbing your screen time can help reduce your stress level.

Reconnect with nature, friends, and family. Summer is the perfect time for gatherings with friends and family, whether it’s a picnic or party for a special occasion (like graduation or July 4), and actually talk to other people in person rather than texting or messaging.  But you don’t need a reason to go outside—grab a book (a real book, not an e-reader), a beverage, and hang out on your front porch or back deck or patio and simply watch the world go by. We get so consumed with doing something every minute, or being accessible and knowing what’s going on at all times, sometimes the best thing we can do is unplug, do nothing, and take some time for ourselves.

How do you keep your e-addiction in check?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Fun Facts About the Fourth of July

Most of us think July 4^th is a day just for relaxing and unwinding with friends and family at barbecues and picnics (and lighting fireworks, of course). But as we all know (or should!), July 4, 1776 is recognized as the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress—in other words, it’s the United States’ birthday!  Although the U.S. is over 200 years old, July 4 has only been a federal holiday since 1870—nearly 100 years after the U.S. declared its independence and became its own country.

In honor of everyone’s favorite summer holiday and the U.S.’ birthday, below are a few facts about the Fourth:

Two of the U.S.’ most famous founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, died on the same day—July 4, 1826.

Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence (representing all 13 colonies), only John Hancock signed it on July 4, 1776. The others all signed later.

Philadelphia held the first Independence Day celebration on July 8, 1776. The crowd was summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell, and during the event, the Declaration of Independence was publicly read for the first time.

Fireworks are a longtime staple of July 4^th celebrations.  They were first authorized by Congress for July 4, 1777. The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) estimates that more than 14,000 fireworks displays are set off each year.      

Picnics are another long-held July 4 tradition, and what’s a picnic without hot dogs? Americans consume approximately 155 million hot dogs on July 4 every year.

Taking hot dog consumption to a different level, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in Coney Island holds an International Hot Dog Eating Contest every July 4.  Competitive eater Joey Chestnut has won 10 contests. In 2017 he ate 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Women’s winner Miki Sudo downed 41 dogs in 10 minutes.

How do you celebrate July 4^th? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!