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Tag: teens

  • Choose the Best Smartphone for Your Preteen or Teenager

    Choose the Best Smartphone for Your Preteen or Teenager

    Choose the Best Smartphone for Your Preteen or Teenager

    In this digital age, it is more than likely your preteen or teenager wants a smartphone. But as a responsible parent, you want to pick the right kind of phone-based on his or her age and maturity level.

    Here are a few throwback options to consider when buying a smartphone for your preteen or teenager:

    [click_to_tweet tweet=”Have you thought about giving your child a smartphone? It could be really helpful in case of unexpected emergencies and keep them connected with you. Here are some throwback options to consider! #smartphones #teens” quote=” Have you thought about giving your child a smartphone? It could be really helpful in case of unexpected emergencies and keep them connected with you. Here are some throwback options to consider! “]

    LG 450

    If your preteen isn’t quite ready to take on the responsibility of a full-featured smartphone, but you still want to keep in touch while he or she is away or in case of an emergency, the LG 450 is a good option.

    It is a simple flip phone with up to three hours of talk time on battery power, text-to-speech capabilities, surfing privileges, and access to kid-friendly games. This is an excellent choice if you are on the fence about giving your preteen phone privileges.

    And if he or she can take care of this phone, you can upgrade in the future.

    Alcatel OneTouch Pop Astro


    If you have a clumsy or forgetful preteen, opt for the Alcatel OneTouch Pop Astro since it offers all the smartphone features on a budget. This means you will be less upset if they drop it in the pool or lose it at school.

    It is considered an entry-level device with a compact look and a decent battery life.

    Plus, there is a built-in camera if your child likes to experiment with photography or simply wants to take a selfie.

    Microsoft Lumia 640

    Upgrade your preteen’s basic phone with something a little more tech-savvy once they prove to you that it won’t be lost or broken. A Microsoft Lumia 640 is great for calling and texting, and it is equipped with a built-in camera.

    At only $129, this is a suitable upgrade for your child.

    Nokia Lumia 635


    The Nokia Lumia 635 boasts a price that is difficult to beat. With its bright screen and interchangeable cases, your teenager will love the fashion statement this phone makes.

    And this phone has enough features to help your teenager feel more like an adult. It is a great tester phone to see how well your teen can handle responsibility.

    HTC One M8

    With an elegant style, large memory option, and dual camera, the HTC One M9 is perfect if your teen has proven that they are responsible. Especially if your teenager loves music, the sound quality is crisp, clear, and without distortions.

    He or she also has access to social media, a built-in camera, and plenty of apps. It has all of the functions of a regular smartphone and will show your teen that they can be treated like an adult.

    Apple iPhone 5C


    iPhones are a popular option for your responsible teen. The Apple iPhone 5c offers a sleek and colorful design, user-friendly options, and compatible apps to make it the complete phone for your teen.

    Before giving the iPhone to your teen, make sure to get the latest iPhone cases to keep it safe.

    Listening to music, accessing homework assignments, and Skyping with friends is easy to do with the touch-screen display and no-fuss access.

    What age do you think kids should get their first cell phone?

  • How to Effectively Teach Your Teen Driver’s Education from Home

    How to Effectively Teach Your Teen Driver’s Education from Home

    How to Effectively Teach Your Teen Driver's Ed from Home

    Whether your teen is homeschooled or their high school doesn’t have an adequate program, teaching driver’s education may fall on your shoulders. To prepare them, you’ll need to follow the necessary state guidelines and regulations in addition to giving your kid ample time behind the wheel.

    Additionally, remembering to stay calm and patient during their learning period will keep stress levels down.

    Guidelines and Regulations Refresher

    Knowing state speed limits, traffic signals, signage, and regulations are key pieces of information to identify when teaching your child to drive. If you’re going to be their primary instructor, you want to familiarize yourself with all of your state guidelines.

    Often states may require parents who are teaching driver’s education to take a refresher course on the basics or fill out certain forms to ensure they are instructing their children in proper road safety. You’ll find several classroom courses offered that can help give the parents the right tools for their teens to learn.

    Highway Safety 101: Commercial Truck Safety

    Commercial truck safety can be lacking in formal driver’s education programs all across the country, and many people don’t understand how critical this information can be to save lives.

    To prepare your teen for highway driving, you need to instruct them on truck safety. Commercial big rigs can often drive aggressively, and your young driver needs to realize the importance of avoiding a potential collision.

    By checking all vehicle mirrors before changing lanes as well as giving commercial trucks room to handle the road, they can bypass accidental cutoffs and accidents.

    Common Hazards for Teens to Avoid Around Trucks


    Your teenager will need to understand that they should be vigilant when driving around trucks, and they may not be aware of the common hazards associated with driving around big rigs. They should be mindful of and avoid these common mistakes:

    • Stay out of the trucker’s No-Zone. That’s the spots behind and beside a big truck where the driver has very limited or zero visibility.
    • Don’t suddenly change lanes in front of a big rig with your vehicle.
    • When a commercial truck is making right turns, don’t maneuver to the right of them.
    • Don’t make a big rig have to brake suddenly or have to make dangerous maneuvers by merging incorrectly into traffic.
    • Make sure you don’t speed up or slow down when a truck merges or changes lanes.
    • Make sure you give yourself enough headway when passing–don’t pass unsafely.
    • There are air turbulence and crosswinds that can hit you and knock you out of position when passing big trucks–use caution when passing.
    • Make sure you accelerate enough when you pull out in the road when there is an approaching truck-don’t misjudge their speed if you’re making a left turn in front of them from an intersection.
    • Don’t pull between two commercial trucks.

    Quiz your teen on these rules and observe them when they first start driving on roadways around large vehicles. Many fatal vehicle crashes are caused by passenger vehicles, so they must understand driver safety around large commercial vehicles.

    Practice Makes Perfect

    While it is necessary to teach minors about state regulations from a book or manual, the practice behind the wheel is just as beneficial. You can start in a vacant parking lot so that they can get a feel for the car.

    Parents should put themselves in their teen’s shoes and remember what it was like to drive for the very first time. Having compassion, patience, and a lot of time will give your new driver time to relax while adjusting to this new skill.

    As your teen gets a grasp on the basics, they can slowly move to low traffic side streets. Practicing in all types of weather-related conditions is just as crucial to their safety, so you need to ensure that they can handle anything that Mother Nature throws their way.

    Driver’s Education and The Learner’s Permit


    Your child will need to obtain their learner’s permit before legally driving on main roads with an adult in the car.

    Your city’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has driver manuals with information in regards to the state’s road and traffic safety laws, which your teen will need to study and fully understand, to be exam ready. The DMV will also have the required paperwork to fill out. Good luck, and stay safe!