20 minute read
Teaching Your Teen to Drive
Teaching Your Teen How To Drive Safely
Tanni Haas, Ph.D.
Advertisement
Parents often like to supplement Give Them Advance Warning their teens’ official driving lessons with their own lessons behind the Give them some advance warning wheel, and that’s a great idea. Studies when you’re ready for the first lesson. show that teens who receive additional Talk with them about, as Mr. Parker driving instruction from their parents puts it, “where you’re going and have fewer accidents than teens who what you’re going to do.” Teens don’t don’t get any extra help. What can like surprises, especially from their parents do to ensure that their teens parents. Get together to plan the route get the most out of their time together and the skills you’ll be working. It’ll in the car? Here’s what the experts put you on a more equal footing. say:
Treat Them Like Adults Let Them Take The Lead
Teens like to be treated as adults. Once you’ve told your teens that That includes when they’re learning you’re willing to give them driving how to drive. Ms. Kendrick says that lessons, back off a parents should avoid bit and don’t push the issue. “If your “An overly talking down to their teens, making any teen isn’t driving you negative comments, crazy about teaching her to drive,” says anxious teen or treating them like little children. Carleton Kendrick, a family therapist who driver can be She suggests that parents “praise works with teens, specific progress “she’s probably too nervous to begin a dangerous and improvement, while offering the process.” Wait patiently until they’re ready for thing.” non-judgmental, optimistic, and encouraging words.” your help. As Wayne The goal is to make Parker, a certified life coach and your teens more aware drivers, not to author of Power Dads, puts it, “an make them feel shamed or judged. overly anxious teen driver can be a dangerous thing.” Another way to guide your teens is to ask them questions instead of Talk Before You Get Into The Car giving commands. Instead of saying slow down or “you’re going to get a Even when your teens say they’re speeding ticket,” Mr. Parker suggests ready to learn how to drive, it’s likely asking “what’s the speed limit here?” that they’ve heard horror stories in Studies show that teens whose parents the news or from their friends that are ask questions rather than make critical making them scared. Nicole Runyon, statements get into fewer accidents. a social worker who deals with teens, suggests that parents “create a calm Put Yourself In Their Shoes and peaceful space for them to talk.” Try to alleviate any fears by listening Studies also show that many parents carefully and reassuring them that focus their instruction more on skills you’ll support and help them become that they had difficulty mastering when competent and safe drivers. they themselves learned how to drive than on the skills that best prevent teen accidents. Instead of spending much of your time teaching your teens how to parallel park (a maneuver that can make many parents break into a sweat), focus on skills like how to safely merge on and off highways, which is in fact a major source of teen accidents.
Stay Calm
It can be stressful teaching your teens how to drive, but don’t show it. Ms. Kendrick encourages parents to hand over the reins to someone else if they can’t keep their “anxiety in check and it’s turning the teaching experience into a tension-filled meltdown zone.” Try to stay calm, even if your teens are creating the tension in the car. “Just role with it,” says Dr. Corinne Peek-Asa, a professor of public health and expert on vehicle injury prevention. Studies show that when the atmosphere is tense, parents offer less constructive feedback and even less feedback that’s focused on safety.
Be A Good Role Model
All kids, including teens, learn more from what they watch their parents do than from anything parents tell them. Be a good role model and drive safely when you’re in the driver’s seat and your teens are the passengers. Jen Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Report’s Auto Test Center, puts it well: “The example you set for them behind the wheel may be the most important in terms of actually keeping them safe, more so than any other safety message you’ve given them in their entire life.”
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences & Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.
National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 18-24, 2020 Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (15-18 years old) in the United States, ahead of all other types of injury, disease, or violence. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, of which 755 deaths were the teen driver - a 3% decrease from 2016. Parents can be the biggest influencers on teens’ choices behind the wheel if they take the time to talk with their teens about some of the biggest driving risks.
Sugar Rush
A racing tradition that ends in a sweet treat
Join Sherwood Memorial Park for our 4th
Annual Run for Donuts 5K and Fun Run (with a virtual option) on Saturday,
November 7th as we raise funds for SVH Services to meet the needs of individuals with unique learning challenges across their lifespans.
Bring your family and friends to run, jog, and even walk through the beautiful grounds at Sherwood
Memorial Park in Salem. Strollers are welcome. YES, this is an IN-PERSON
EVENT that will be COVID-friendly with staggered starts in small groups. The 5k will be timed by Mountain Junkies. Registration: https://runsignup.com/
Race/VA/Salem/RunforDonuts5k.
“Sherwood is pleased to provide an enclosed and beautiful setting for those wanting to honor loved ones while supporting a wonderful cause. It will be a great event!” stated Sherwood Memorial Park President, Susan Mini.
The Run for Donuts 5K and Fun Run will be supporting the three programs offered by SVH Services: SVH Adult
Services, Blue Ridge Autism and
Achievement Center (BRAAC), and
SVH Family Services. These programs are geared toward accomplishing goals associated with meaningful employment, social relationships, enjoyable hobbies and independence. All SVH Services’ programs can work
4th Annual Run for Donuts Benefiting SVH Services
November 7 8:30 AM Sherwood Memorial Park
5K, Fun Run and Virtual Race options available
independently or together to achieve goals for each individual client’s goals.
“Because adults with unique learning challenges usually do not have funding sources after completing high school, they are often staying home, disengaged with their community and unemployed,” said SVH CEO Angie Leonard. “SVH Services depends on fundraisers, like our Run for Donuts 5K, to provide the financial resources for these wonderful men and women who DO become contributing active members of our community with our help.”
The first 150 people to register for either the 5K, the Fun Run, or for the virtual option will receive an exclusive race knit beanie cap. All participants will get to pick out a yummy donut from Dunkin’ Donuts to munch on at the finish line. Eating donuts isn’t required to complete either course; however, it will definitely be a lot of fun if people do! Participants are encouraged to dress up in their best donut attire to be entered in our “Best Costume Contest”.
The 5K race starts at 8:30am, with the Fun Run (1 mile) starting at 8:45am. Registration before September 30th will allow $5 off the registration fee of $30 for the 5K and $20 for the Fun Run. The virtual option is $20 flat donation. Sherwood Memorial Park,our Title Sponsor along with WFXR, our Presenting Sponsor, along with our sponsors and partners: Dunkin’ Donuts, Servpro, Business Solutions, Effectv, Berglund Center, RunAbout Sports, Roanoke Valley Family, Mountain Junkies, The Great 611 Steak Company, Roanoke Valley Orthodontics, Shrader Wealth Advisors, Jefferson Surgical Clinic, Atlantic Union Bank, and Steve 104.9FM, are extremely excited for this fun family event!
For questions about the race, please contact Teri Nance at (540) 366-7399 or teri.nance@ svhservices.org. You may also go online to www.svhservices.org to learn more and register.
“Because adults with unique learning challenges usually do not have funding sources after completing high school, they are often staying home, disengaged with their community and unemployed... SVH Services depends on fundraisers, like our Run for Donuts 5K, to provide the financial resources for these wonderful men and women who DO become contributing active members of our community with our help.”
My Teens Have It Better Than I Did in the 80s
By Cheryl Maguire
That was me speaking, not my teen. We signed up for a music subscription service and within minutes she had all the latest hits on her iPhone playlist. I was in awe but also jealous of her easy access to music. As a teen growing up in the 80s, I would have loved to have the ability to listen to a song of my choosing within seconds. Even though technology can have its downfalls, I’m envious of all the ways my teen will have it better than I did growing up.
Music
Me in the 80s: I loved all types of music. One of my favorite things to do was create a mixtape. Using my dual cassette Boombox, I recorded a mix of songs onto a cassette tape to later play on my yellow waterproof Sony Walkman player. Sometimes it would take over a week just to make one mixtape.
If I didn’t own the album I waited for the song to come on the radio and record it onto the cassette tape which often had a little bit of the DJ introducing the song or the song cut off in the end. If I wanted to change a song, I would have to rewind the tape and record over it which would really only work for the last song since you would end up recording over other songs. Mostly you are stuck with it.
As you can see it was a cumbersome, elaborate process that by the time you were done making a mixtape you were sick of most of the songs and ready to make another one.
My Teen Now: Within in seconds she downloads twenty songs onto a playlist to her phone which she can bring with her anywhere. If she becomes tired of a song, clicking delete will eliminate it instantly or she can hit next to forward to the next song without waiting for the tape to move along or without trying to figure out how long to fast forward until the song is over.
Writing Research Reports
Me in the 80s: Thumbing through the library card catalog, I found a book related to my research paper. I then searched through the library for it and check it out. Usually, I needed at least three or four books which meant repeating the process. I then had to handwrite the paper (we didn’t have a typewriter or word processor which I didn’t use until college) and used my mother as a spell checker since I was horrible at spelling.
My Teen Now: A quick Google search reveals over a hundred different links related to her research topic. She then types up her paper in a Google Doc using spell check although unlike her mother (more like her grandmother) she is an incredible speller and doesn’t even need it. My Teen Now: She sends a quick text from her phone, “Please pick me up now,” without needing any quarters or searching for a payphone or using the collect call trick.
Communicating with Friends
Me in the 80s: One phone in the house and me, my two sisters and my mom was not a good combination since we always seemed to want to use it at the same time. If you wanted to make a phone call outside of our town, you would be charged per minute. My Teen Now: Everyone in the house has their own phone line and can easily make unlimited phone calls (or Facetime) anywhere in the USA without paying additional fees. Although she hardly ever makes “real” phone calls— she mostly uses text messages or social media. I doubt she has ever heard a “busy single” or understands how great it was when “call waiting” was introduced (she probably doesn’t even know what that is either).
Taking a Picture
Me in the 80s: I loved taking pictures, but similar to the mixtapes it involved many steps. You had to buy film, use it up by taking 24 pictures and develop it by bringing it to the store which could sometimes take a week. It also could add up costing a lot of money buying the film and developing it.
Making a Phone Call My Teen Now: She snaps pictures of Me in the 80s: After I finished shopping “Even though or the wall without costing anything and at the mall with my technology can have gets to see it instantly. friends I needed to find a payphone (along with a quarter) to ask my its downfalls, I’m envious of all the The next time your teen says, “I’m mom to pick us up. She ways my teen will bored,” you can wow gabbed away for over three minutes which have it better than I them with your stories about how you created required me to feed did growing up.” mixtapes, needed the payphone another a payphone to call quarter since she home or used a library card catalog. went over the time limit. I thought to I recently did this with my niece who myself I should have used the collect said, “I know and you didn’t even have call trick—when they ask for my name I electricity!” which made me laugh would say, “Pickup Mall.” since she really thought that was true.
her friends, her sister If nothing else it will ensure you don’t hear the phrase “I’m bored,” ever again.
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessing and Your Teen Magazine. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05
NOW OPEN!!! CHECK WEBSITE FOR HOURS!
Spooky Safe and Halloween
Halloween Safety during a Pandemic
Hosting a Halloween Celebration
If you will be hosting a celebration, follow these CDC tips for hosting gatherings. Below are some additional considerations for hosting a holiday celebration:
• Host outdoor activities rather than indoor activities as much as possible. If hosting an outdoor event is not possible, and you choose to host an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, or fully enclosed indoor spaces.
• Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather.
• Host activities with only people from your local area as much as possible.
• Limit numbers of attendees as much as possible.
• Provide updated information to your guests about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Provide or encourage attendees to bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy. For example, extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues.
• If you are planning in-person holiday gatherings with people outside of your household, consider asking all guests to strictly avoid contact with people outside of their households for 14 days before the gathering.
Attending a Halloween Celebration
If you will be attending a celebration that someone else is hosting, follow CDC Considerations for attending an event or gathering. Below are some additional considerations for attending an in-person holiday gathering:
• Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities. If participating in an outdoor event is not possible, and you choose to attend an indoor event, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated, and fully enclosed indoor spaces. Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to the extent that is safe and feasible based on the weather.
• Check with the event host, organizer, or event venue for updated information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and if they have steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy. For example, bring extra masks (do not share or swap with others), hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and tissues.
• If you are planning to attend in-person holiday gatherings with people outside of your household, consider strictly avoiding contact with people outside of your household for 14 days before the gathering.
During the celebration
Follow these tips to reduce your risk of being exposed to, getting, or spreading COVID-19 during the celebration:
• Social distance and limit close contact
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet or more from people you don’t live with. Be particularly mindful in areas where it may harder to keep this distance, such as restrooms and eating areas.
• Avoid using restroom facilities at high traffic times, such as at the end of a public event.
• Avoid busy eating areas, such as restaurants during high volume mealtimes, if you plan to eat out at a restaurant.
• Minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, do not shake hands, elbow bump, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet others.
• Wear a mask at all times when around people who don’t live in your household to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
• Avoid singing, chanting, or shouting, especially when not wearing a mask and within 6 feet of others.
• Do not use a costume mask as a substitute
for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around your face.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items
• Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible. Use EPA-approved disinfectants.
• Use touchless garbage cans if available.
• Use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands after removing gloves.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Keep safe around food and drinks
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. It is possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, including food, food packaging, or utensils that have the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. However, this is not thought to be the main way that the virus is spread. Remember, it is always important to follow good hygiene to reduce the risk of illness from common foodborne germs.
• Make sure everyone washes their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after preparing, serving, and eating food.
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Instead of potluck-style gatherings, encourage guests to bring food and drinks for themselves and for members of their own household only.
• Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible.
• Wear a mask while preparing or serving food to others who don’t live in your household.
• If serving any food, consider having one person serve all the food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils.
• Use single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers, plates and utensils, and condiments.
• Avoid any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets or buffet-style potlucks, salad bars, and condiment or drink stations.
• Use grab-and-go meal options, if available.
• If you choose to use any items that are reusable (e.g., seating covers, tablecloths, linen napkins), wash and disinfect them after the event.
Lower Risk Halloween Activities
• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloweenthemed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-ortreat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Moderate Risk Halloween Activities
• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
• If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walkthrough haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
Higher Risk Halloween Activities
• Participating in traditional trick-ortreating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
• Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19
