Once we started homeschooling our kids, I noticed that they started to struggle more with concentration. In addition to making it hard to get through a lesson, they also lost interest in some of their favorite subjects--presumably because we weren't teaching them as well as their favorite teachers. Fortunately, a friend of ours told us about some great homeschooling educational tools that might be able to help. We invested in some new textbooks and a few updated visual aids, and it made a tremendous difference. Read this blog to find out how to bolster your child's education, even if you teach them at home.
Choosing a preschool for your child is a critical decision that can significantly impact their early deve
If you have a child who attends high school and they're struggling academically, you can give them the as
Every parent wants the best for their child. Thus, it is not uncommon to find that some parents will inve
Flight training has come a long way thanks to advancements in technology and aviation equipment. Still, t
For many parents, typical daycares may seem too conventional and lack that creative spark they desire for
Distracted driving is a real problem among teen drivers. In fact, while studies show that accidents caused by teens drinking and driving are on the decline, accidents involving distracted driving are on the rise. As a parent, your top priority is keeping your teen driver safe even when you're not in the car with them. These tips can help you and your teenager learn to be more focused on the road while driving and prevent dangerous driver distraction that can lead to accidents.
Educate your teens
The first and best way to prevent your teens from engaging in distracted driving is to teach them that it's not just texting and driving that can be a problem. Having friends in the car, listening to loud music and eating while driving are all common activities teens engage in that could be putting them at risk of an accident. Talk to your teen about what constitutes a distraction and encourage them to be aware of things that might distract them from driving safely. Remind them that a car is a dangerous tool that can be deadly if it isn't used properly.
Learning how to drive doesn't stop at taking driving lessons and passing your test. Teens will learn just as much from watching you drive as they would at any driving school. Make sure that you set a good example as a parent. Don't take calls while you're driving unless you use a hands-free device, don't text (even at traffic lights or stop signs) while driving, and don't try to carry on conversations while driving. Your focus should be on driving safely so your teenager has a good example to learn from.
Consider your technology options
Although it may sound counter-intuitive, you can use technology to prevent your teen from being distracted by technology, specifically texting and talking on the phone while driving. There are some apps available that use GPS technology to tell when the vehicle is moving. The apps block text messages from being sent or received while the vehicle is moving, and some can track the speed at which the vehicle is moving, too.
While technology to prevent distracted driving is still in its infancy, scientists and inventors are working on new ways to make teen drivers safer by limiting distractions in the car. One device that's in development as of 2016 is designed to sound an alarm and vibrate if the driver removes one or both hands from the steering wheel while driving. It also detects if the driver's hands are too close to the top of the steering wheel, which could indicate a text message is being sent.
Make it difficult to be distracted
Limiting distractions inside the car is the most efficient way to reduce the likelihood of distracted driving, but it's not always the most practical. Restrict your teen's driving to short trips, don't allow them to give their friends rides (at least until they are confident in their driving abilities), set a rule about keeping the radio volume at a reasonable level and have your teen place their phone in the back seat or even in the trunk of the car before they drive. It may seem like a hassle to them to have to retrieve the phone when they get out of the car, but it will ensure that they don't text or take calls while they're driving.
Teach them to be aware
Your teen can be the best driver ever and still be affected by distracted driving, or other drivers may be driving while distracted. It's important that you teach your teen to be aware of other drivers so they can react to any situation that might occur. Awareness is important not just for driving responsibly, but for improving your teen driver's reaction time as well, and it could prevent a serious accident.
Distracted driving doesn't just affect teens. If you are guilty of trying to do multiple things while behind the wheel of your car, make a point to focus on your driving so you can set a good example for your teen and you'll both be better drivers for it.
Share