4 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL WINTER PICNIC IT’S COZY SEASON!
Watching your teen get their license can be a terrifying experience for you as a parent. You're right to be cautious, considering the accident statistics. Teen drivers are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than other drivers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should take away your teen’s keys. You have more influence than you think, and for Teen Driving Awareness Month, we’re sharing several ways you can influence your child’s driving habits. Set a good example. As in other areas of life, the best way to pass your values to your children is to model them in your own life. If you speed, drive distracted, or run red lights, these behaviors will seem normal to your child, and they’re This time of year, we all enjoy nestling up by a fire, cuddling under a blanket on the couch, or enjoying a warm cup of joe at the local coffee shop. If someone were to propose a winter picnic at the local park, you’d probably think they were crazy. But don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea. With these four tips for hosting a winter picnic, you'll be up for having lunch outside in January any time. Keep Warm Maintaining heat in winter is at the forefront of all concerns, and your winter picnic is no different. Be sure to pack hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, socks, and an extra set of clothing for unexpected changes in the weather. Believe it or not, a large beach umbrella is extremely helpful in protecting LAYING DOWN THE RULES OF THE ROAD Parents Can Improve Teen Driving Safety
you from the winter elements. You can even plan some active picnic games to keep your body moving and the heat flowing! Light a Bonfire If the location of your picnic permits, light a fire to cozy up next to. Some beaches and campgrounds have designated firepit areas to start a fire while enjoying a warm winter meal. You can even cook your food over the fire! Remember to be careful when building a fire in the wilderness and take proper safety precautions. Pack Hot Meals Picnics are all about ease and relaxation! Here are some toasty and hearty winter picnic meal ideas to help warm you up:
• Warm brownies • Baked mac and cheese • Loaded baked
potatoes
• Quiche • Chili
Keep It Simple Remember, it doesn’t need to be complicated! Even just a thermos of hot chocolate; some warm, freshly baked cookies; a bunch of blankets; and hats and gloves are plenty for a winter picnic — ultimately, it’s all about soaking up the beauty of the most wonderful time of the year!
• Soup • Stew • Pot pie
• Toasted
sandwich or panini
more likely to emulate them once they get behind the wheel themselves. Drive the way you want your child to drive someday. And while it doesn’t work for every family, many parents prefer to help teach their children how to drive so they learn good habits from day one. Create ground rules. The circumstances surrounding teen crashes are all too similar. In part, teens have more accidents because they have less experience behind the wheel. But distracted driving, speeding, other people in the car, and night driving are more likely to end in tragedy. It’s wise not to allow your teen to have passengers in their car or drive at night until they’ve proven themselves responsible drivers. There should also be a strict policy against phone use while driving, and seat belts are always mandatory. Enforce consequences. Unfortunately, you won’t always know whether your teen is wearing a seat belt or texting while driving. Letting your teen operate a motor vehicle means placing a fair amount of trust in them. (If you can’t
do that, it’s probably best for your teen to wait on securing that license.) But if you catch them breaking one of your rules, the consequences should be laid out in advance and enforced consistently. A teen who learns it’s okay to text “just once” is more likely to text a second, third, and fourth time. The appropriate consequences are up to every parent, but don’t ease up on the safety rules you’ve established. The stakes are too high — and correctly handling your teen’s driving might be a lifesaver.
2 | 229-888-0888
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator