Car seat guidelines have changed dramatically in recent years. For instance, the AAP now recommends that babies continue to ride in their rear-facing seats until age 2 (at least!). However, after your childs second birthday, there are still strict safety rules you need to follow. After your child turns 2, the AAP advises continuing to use the rear-facing seat until he or she exceeds the manufacturers recommended height and weight limits. Once that happens, you can then switch your childs ...

For both parents and kids, summer camp isnt just a quintessential part of summer: its a rite of passage! Sending your child to summer camp, whether its half-day, full-day or overnight, is a big step! If your child is headed to camp this summer, there are certain safety issues youll need to consider. So, check out our list, and set your child up for summer camp success! Be aware of bugs Ticks, mosquitoes, spiders -- spending increased time outside opens your child up to potentially ser...

As your kids walk, bike, ride or even wait in line at the bus stop, its important to make sure they know proper etiquette and safety rules. Heres a quick recap of basic pedestrian safety: If your child is walking to school: 1. They should only use designated crosswalks, such as at traffic lights or marked school crossing spots. 2. Watch cars -- not lights. A green light does not mean it’s safe to walk — it means you should look for cars first, and only then begin cro...

Halloween season is upon us, with lots of local festivals and events happening before the big day. As your little ghouls and boys head out to collect their candy, make sure they follow these three tips for staying safe: 1. Never let your child trick-or-treat alone.   Children should only trick-or-treat with a group that includes enough responsible adults to manage excited kids in costumes that might make it difficult for them to be seen. A little reflective tape on costumes can also ...

Last week we talked about trick-or-treating tips for your kids; this week, its all about safety guidelines for homeowners. Lots of people really get into Halloween decorations, with homemade "cemeteries" in their lawns, DIY Haunted Houses on their driveways, loads of lights, and lots of hanging skeletons, cobwebs and, of course, Jack o Lanterns. But, as with anything, these decorations can pose a safety risk if youre not careful. Here are 5 safety tips every homeowner needs to follow: ...

This week, were wrapping up our Halloween-themed posts with a fun one: alternative treats to hand out. Now were not suggesting you hand out toothbrushes or boxes of raisins; but nowadays, there are lots of treat options that wont put you at risk for having a tree full of toilet paper on November 1! Here are 25 ideas: Cereal bars/Nutrigrain bars Mini bags of microwave popcorn Snack bags of pretzels or Goldfish crackers Juice boxes Applesauce cups or squeeze...

School buses are awesome. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these yellow vehicles: keep roughly 17.3 million cars off the roads each morning, are far less likely to be involved in accidents, and are easily the safest mode of transportation for your kids. Moreover, todays school buses are designed to be safer than ever, and drivers are expected to undergo rigorous training and education to get your kids safely to and from school. ...

If you’ve ever joked about hiring a chauffeur to shuttle your kids to and from their various activities, you’re not alone! With back-to-school season upon us, many of us are in desperate need of a little help getting our kids around town. Between transporting your kids to and from school, extracurriculars, soccer practice, weekend football games, study sessions and playdates, your family minivan is probably feeling more like the family taxi. For working parents, the 9-5 sc...

  My name is Jaime and I’m an agent at Etler Kettenacker Agency. Before I got into the insurance industry I did not really understand the importance of insurance or how it worked.   I swear I would hear the teacher from Peanuts when someone would talk insurance!     Since I just told you how confusing I thought insurance was, you may be asking why the heck I would decide to go work in insurance? 2 words… Life Insurance. My husband, Jason, was our fa...