Aaron driving the Beemer.

With summer revving its engine, classes ending and summer jobs starting, it’s a great time of year for teenagers.

However, between driving to work, taking road trips and joyriding without care, teens are on the road a lot more in the summer months. It is no surprise, then, that data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows an annual spike in traffic accidents, injuries and deaths among young people in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

As teens start cruising around this summer, it is important for parents to remind them how to stay safe behind the wheel.  Below are a few quick tips for parents of teen drivers from http://www.thinkbeforeyoudrive.org.

Create a driving contract for your teen, and be prepared to stick to it. A driving contract is a great way to let teens know that driving is both a privilege and a serious responsibility. It also establishes clear expectations about driving for your teen: always wear a seat belt, never get into a vehicle with someone who’s been drinking, etc. A customizable contract template is available at http://www.thinkbeforeyoudrive.org .

Choose an ICE contact. All drivers should designate an emergency contact in the address book of their cell phones under the name “ICE” – In Case of Emergency. Emergency workers in many towns check for an ICE contact in cell phones.

Set a good example. Practice what you preach. When parents run red and yellow lights, speed down the highway at 75 miles per hour, weave in and out of traffic, ride the bumper of the car in front of them and exhibit signs of road rage, they are telling teens that rules don’t count – and this can be fatal. Be a role model for your teen.

ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org has some great videos in their Driving 101 area and an online Road Test too. Aaron and I checked out the site and it was interesting and informative.

A few teen driver tasks from The Mom Maven’s Homeschool Driver’s Education files. In addition to safety and driving evaluations:

• Teen driver must demonstrate how to check tire pressure and inflate tire
• Teen driver must demonstrate how to change a tire
• Teen driver must demonstrate how to check the oil
• Teen driver and parents must create a driving contract

Driving is a privilege, not a right. Anyone who cannot follow the rules of the road should have their driving privileges suspended until they are mature enough to handle the responsibility.

Check out ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org and Drive safe!

What rules have you set up for your teen driver? Please share them in the comments so we can all learn together.

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In talking to my friends I have realized that no one is helping them choose the right college for their child. Even those in public schools with “guidence counselors” aren’t getting the support and information they need to make one of the most important and expensive decisions in their lives so far.

I have been doing some research and I have found some interesting online resources. Over the next few months I will be sharing them with you. I have not received anything from these sites though some of them have asked me to talk about them on my blog.  Some of these sites may see each other as a “competitor” but every family has different needs and different questions about preparing for and choosing a college. I am doing this as a service to you, my readers.

I hope you will find this series of articles helpful and please feel free to share them with your friends via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, StumbleUpon, Propeller, Digg and any other way you like to share great information.

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Yes, I just said there were awesome prizes, there always are at Amy’s parties. The grand prize is a Power Wheels A.T. Rex with Monster Traction! Other prizes include a Banzai Titan Blast Rocket, Banzai Skimboard Surfer and Banzai 3-D Sharkbite Water Slide!

Today we got to play with the Banzai Skimboard Surfer. Ok, I watched while my son Aaron and his friends, Kenny and Kyle played. The Banzai Skimboard Surfer is for ages 8 and up, Aaron & Kenny are 16 and Kyle is 13. Check out our video.

It took us about 30 minutes to set up the Banzai Skimboard Surfer. You need to find a flat grassy area to use this on. We actually went to a play yard at our church. We thought the area was flat but once we got all set up we realized there were actually 2 raised areas that made it a little difficult. All 3 boys had a lot of fun. They played for over an hour, and would have played longer if it wasn’t 5pm. The boys all agreed they will have a lot of fun using this over the summer. Their skill increased as the time went along and I’m sure with more practice they will get even better. We think we have enough flat grassy area in our front yard that we can try it at home next time.

Make sure you RSVP for the sitewarming tomorrow (Friday, May 1st) so that you can try to win your own Banzai Skimboard Surfer. If you have never attended a Twitter party before I suggest signing into http://tweetgrid.com, click on party in the top navigation bar, the hashtag is #outdoorplay, the hosts are @resourcefulmom, @JimSilver and @TheToyGuy, fill in your Twitter username and the hold on tight and do your best to follow along! If you have any questions during the party feel free to send me a message to @MomMaven and I’ll give you a hand.

The post Outdoor Play with the Big Kids appeared first on The Mom Maven.

I’m not saying he is a perfect kid. He has been stubborn since the day he was born, attested to by my 34 hour labor! With him, there is no gray area just black and white (I wonder where he gets that from)? He can be lazy-what teen can’t. He has an explosive temper-though the closer He gets to God-the less we see of his temper.

I am proud to be his mom, teacher, coach, mentor and friend. Happy 16th birthday Aaron!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

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