Back to School Safety: Bullying and School Life

Back to School Safety Guide

Unfortunately, these days, there is a lot of talk about bullies and how they can impact your child’s ability to learn and enjoy school. This is an issue that has to be discussed beforehand so that your kid can be prepared if he or she experiences it.

Here are some guidelines to follow.

  • Tell a teacher when you’re being bullied.
  • Try to avoid the bully whenever possible.
  • As a parent, you may want to try talking to the bully or his/her parent to find out why he or she is acting out.
  • Don’t ignore the issue and hope that it goes away.

Another crucial element to this is letting your child know that he or she can talk to you about school problems at any time. Whether it’s bullying, classwork, or stress that comes from school experiences, it’s imperative that your kid feel comfortable talking to you about it. Now is the time when he or she will be developing a social persona, so you want to cultivate a nurturing and supportive environment. If your child feels as if he or she can’t talk to you, then it will only lead to bigger problems such as depression and anxiety.

Back to School Safety: General School Preparation Guidelines

Back to School Safety Guide

While safety and security are essential for both you and your children, there are plenty of different ways that you can make this time easier for everyone involved. Rather than getting stressed and trying to deal with problems as they arise, it’s so much better to plan ahead and stay on top of things before they get out of hand.

So, with that in mind, here are some general tips to make going to back to school as smooth a transition as possible.

  • Train your kids to wake up on time. Over the summer, it’s easy to get into bad habits with a wonky sleep schedule. Thus, a great way to minimize the pain and frustration that comes from waking up early, start your kids on a mock school routine a couple of weeks before their first class.
  • Meet their teachers. It’s always a good idea to get a sense of who will be interacting with your child on a regular basis. During these meetings, you can not only see where your kids will be learning, but you can discuss any potential concerns that you may have before classes start.
  • Keep them healthy. Most kids these days have terrible diets, and many schools can’t afford to offer nutritious lunches to make up for that fact. As a result, your child may be eating a lot of high-calorie fatty foods and sugary drinks. Teach your little one how to eat properly and plan meals ahead of time to avoid instilling bad habits.
  • Organize their clothes and school outfits. Shopping for new apparel is an essential part of the back to school process, but you don’t want to struggle to get your kids out the door because they can’t find their favorite shirt. If your children are old enough to start managing their clothes on their own, then now’s the time to show them how to stay organized. Otherwise, help them out so that you can save time and frustration in the morning.
  • Pay attention to their backpack. Unfortunately, kids will wind up having to carry tons of books around on a daily basis. If possible, get a backpack that provides additional support so that it doesn’t put too much pressure on their shoulders. Also, pay attention to how they pack it so that they don’t miss anything for class (such as homework or supplies).

More Back to School Safety to Come

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Back to School Safety: Review Your Insurance – Auto Insurance

Back to School Safety Guide

When it comes to reviewing your policy, be sure to contact Bob Johnson Insurance today. We are more than happy to go over your coverage and see where you may need additional protection. Since your teenager likely doesn’t have his or her own policy, it’s imperative that you make sure that he or she is covered before sending him or her off to school.

When doing a review, there are two common areas that may need to be updated or amended.  Today, we are discussing auto insurance.

Reviewing Auto Insurance

Is the car your teen is using under your name? If so, then you want to be sure that any accidents or damaged are covered and won’t severely affect your rates. If your college student is earning money, it can be a good idea to have him or her pay for an individual policy. This will not only help you out financially, but it will provide your teen with valuable experience and responsibility.

Some other elements of auto insurance to pay attention to during your review can include:

  • Student discounts
  • Out of state coverage
  • Driving someone else’s car
  • Good driver discounts

In the end, it’s better to have more coverage than you think you need so that you’re prepared for any eventuality. You don’t want to wait until something happens to discover that your teen is not covered under your policy. It’s always best to be safe than sorry.

How Long Does it Take?

Reviewing your coverage takes just a few minutes on the phone.  Give us a call at 865-922-3111. We can let you know your options, answer any questions you may have and point out any discounts for which you might be able to take advantage.

More Back to School Safety to Come

Our focus this month is all about school safety. Like and Follow us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up when we release new tips!

Back to School Safety: Review Your Insurance – Renter’s Insurance

Back to School Safety Guide

When it comes to reviewing your policy, be sure to contact Bob Johnson Insurance today. We are more than happy to go over your coverage and see where you may need additional protection. Since your teenager likely doesn’t have his or her own policy, it’s imperative that you make sure that he or she is covered before sending him or her off to school.

When doing a review, there are two common areas that may need to be updated or amended.  Today, we are discussing renter’s insurance.

Renter’s Insurance

If your teen is staying in off-campus housing, does the university provide coverage? If not, then renter’s insurance is a good idea. Even if he or she is living in a dorm, it’s always good to figure out what may or may not be covered in the school’s policy.

The other thing to consider is if your teen is living out of state. Since there may be different rules regarding insurance coverage and requirements, a review is necessary to ensure that you’re not missing anything. Some states may require more coverage than others, so it’s imperative that you fill in any gaps that might come with the territory.

How Long Does it Take?

Reviewing your coverage takes just a few minutes on the phone.  Give us a call at 865-922-3111.

More Back to School Safety to Come

Our focus this month is all about school safety. Like and Follow us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up when we release new tips!

Back to School Safety: College – General Safety Tips

Back to School Safety Guide

This week, we have a couple of tips for students going back to college.

General College Safety Tips

Having a car in prime condition is only one element of college life that will keep your child out of trouble. Although his or her experience can change depending on a variety of factors, here are some ground rules that you should go over before he or she embarks on this next chapter.

  • Don’t drink too much. Not only will it affect grades, but it could lead to a host of health problems.
  • Clean your dorm regularly. Smells will develop over time, and your teenager could create a biohazard in the process.
  • Try to eat healthily. College students are notorious for eating cheap food, but it will cost them in the long run.
  • Stay safe on campus. Walking around at night can be dangerous in some areas, so always have a buddy or friend go with you.
  • Don’t get too stressed. Too much anxiety can lead to depression and other mental afflictions. Remind your teen to relax from time to time and avoid cramming whenever possible.
  • Think before you act.  College is a time to explore and try new things, but remember that everything we do has consequences — either good, bad or a little of each.  Sometimes those consequences cannot be reversed. Remind your student to think about what they do BEFORE they do it. Overall, teach your son or daughter that it’s okay to discover who they are as long as they aren’t putting themselves in danger.

More Back to School Safety to Come

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Back to School Safety: College – Prepping Your Car

Back to School Safety Guide

If your child is heading off to higher education, then you want to make sure that he or she is well prepared for life on their own. There are a lot of different things that can happen during college life, so it’s imperative that you talk to your teenager about how to stay safe in the process.  This week, we have a couple of tips for students going back to college.

Prepping Your Car for the Trip

If the university is a long distance away from home, then you will want to be sure that your teen’s car is up to the challenge. That being said, here are the most vital systems to check and update as necessary.

  • Check fluids. Brakes, power steering, and oil are all essential. Other options include windshield wipers, antifreeze, and possibly transmission fluid.
  • Check for leaks. If the car is leaving wet spots wherever it goes, there is a good chance that you have to get something fixed.
  • Test the battery. Unless it’s less than a year old, it should be tested to make sure that it will hold up, especially in hot or cold weather.
  • Check your tires. First, make sure that they have sufficient pressure. Next, check for balding, as that’s a sign that they need to be replaced. Also check to make sure that you have a properly-inflated spare tire that is in good working order.
  • Test your lights. Although brake lights and headlights are crucial, you should also check things like license plate lights and dome bulbs as well.
  • Find a local mechanic. Since you won’t be on hand to remind your teenager about car maintenance, it’s best to find a local shop that can help out.

More Back to School Safety to Come

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Back to School Safety: Getting to School – Carpooling

Back to School Safety Guide

This week, we are giving a brief overview of various transportation options as well as how to stay safe in each situation.

Carpooling

In many cases, you can arrange a carpool with other parents to ensure that your kids get to school quickly and safely. Although carpooling is one of the most secure methods of transportation, it’s still essential that you prepare your child for potential danger.

For the most part, you want to make sure that your little one verifies the driver of the car before getting in. Since many vehicles look alike, it can be easy to mistake one for the other and wind up in the wrong car. Also, for added security, it’s best to set up a schedule beforehand. This way, your child knows who should be picking him or her up at any time. Thus, if someone else tries to drive your little one, he or she will know to avoid the situation and wait for the approved driver instead.

More Back to School Safety to Come

Our focus this month is all about school safety. Like and Follow us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up when we release new tips!

Back to School Safety: Getting to School – Walking to School

Back to School Safety Guide

This week, we are giving a brief overview of various transportation options as well as how to stay safe in each situation.

Walking to School

If biking is not a viable option but you still live close, then you may allow your kids to walk to school. If that is the case, then follow these tips to ensure proper safety.

  • Walk with other kids. Try to never walk by yourself if possible.
  • Stick to open areas that have high visibility.
  • Always follow proper traffic safety when crossing the street.
  • Never stop to interact with anyone you don’t know.
  • Don’t walk after dark.
  • Only walk pre-approved routes. Don’t deviate.
  • If you get lost, retrace your steps until you can find your way.
  • Keep a phone handy in case you have to call someone.

More Back to School Safety to Come

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Back to School Safety: Getting to School – Biking to School

Back to School Safety Guide

This week, we are giving a brief overview of various transportation options as well as how to stay safe in each situation.

Biking to School Safety

As your kids get older, they may want to get to school on their own. Cycling is a viable option if you don’t live too far, and you are in a decent neighborhood. Although you should have covered basic bike safety when you taught your child how to ride, some other elements have to be addressed when biking to and from school.

  • Always look both ways before crossing the street.
  • Always ride with a helmet and pads.
  • Never leave your bike unattended and unlocked.
  • Make sure to lock your bike when you arrive at school.
  • Pay attention to cars and traffic while riding.
  • Try to stick to the sidewalks whenever possible.
  • Ride with traffic, not against it.
  • Never ride at night without a light. Try not to ride at night at all if possible.
  • Never let someone else ride with you – one seat, one rider.

More Back to School Safety to Come

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Back to School Safety: Getting to School – Riding the School Bus

Back to School Safety Guide

Although most parents would love to be able to drop their kids off and pick them up every day, work schedules usually prohibit that kind of attentive care. Thus, you will likely have to rely on a variety of methods to ensure that your children get to and from school safely. This week, we are giving a brief overview of various transportation options as well as how to stay safe in each situation.

Riding the School Bus

Remarkably, busses have not changed at all in the last fifty years. That means that the bus you rode on as a kid is likely identical to the one that will transport your child. The reason for this is that school buses are about as safe as they can be already, but that doesn’t mean that they are immune to accidents. Here are the rules every child should follow when riding the bus.

  • Always listen to the bus driver and follow instructions.
  • Never stand while the bus is in motion.
  • Only get off at a stop that you recognize. Never depart the bus if you’re not sure where you are.
  • Keep your bag and belongings close to you. If anything drops onto the floor, wait until you arrive before trying to retrieve it.

More Back to School Safety to Come

Our focus this month is all about school safety. Like and Follow us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up when we release new tips!