Wondering how to find a good pediatrician for baby? Doctors and experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics discuss all aspects of your child's health and well-being. Follow the six guides:
1. Encourage seriousness when driving: Many teenagers behave in ways responsible adults may judge as unserious. It comes with their level of maturity. Often teens assume they are invincible, overestimating their capabilities and underestimating the attendant risks in the things they do. This often shows up as inexperience especially on our roads when they are behind the wheels. Texting and driving, earphones and extra-loud music, playing with a passenger, helping a passenger with something while the vehicle is in motion, browsing and even playing Pokemon Go! Parents must set firm rules and enforce them for the safety of their child and the happiness of the family. Trying to be lax with rules can have dire consequences for teenagers behind wheels.
2. Prevent tired or sleepy driving: Sleep deprivation in American has almost become a way of life. From pre-school all the way through AARP and to the retired seniors in their 70s. We are all sleep-deprived, somewhat. My son started fighting bedtime by the time he was 1 year old. He had very few words but was effective at communicating disagreement whenever it was bedtime. Teenagers are night owls. Not completely their fault though. Melatonin, the natural hormone that helps us step down as the sun goes down takes a bit longer to get teens to that state of “it’s a good idea to lay down”. Mobile device screens can be just as disruptive as an unruly teen. The stimulating effects of the screen on the eyes are believed to affect our brains in ways that send signals that it is still daytime. There are a few other factors that make it clearer why teens are likely to be drowsy behind the wheels. Parents have to remind their teen drivers of the dangers of being drowsy when they are at the wheels.
3. Prevent Negative Modeling: Our healthy children experience the world initially through us, the parents. They observe our every move and believe it or not they would absorb everything they see us do and in some uncanny way look for a way to repeat it down the road. Sometimes it is sooner (remember the swearing Youtube toddler) even before they are out of diapers. Parents can help teens become safer drivers by being safe also. Model those great behaviors that you want to see in your child. Keep your device away from you as far as possible when driving. That will help them understand that you do not use your device when at the wheels so they will be more likely to imbibe it.
4. Remind Them How Much You Value Them, Love Them: Teens do like to hear those words too. They like to know that you miss them, you love them and you would be a wreck if anything ever happened to them. I know that as soon as they turn 13, having a full discussion with them becomes a chore. “I don’t know” becomes their default response to most things and the good old forgotten “why” resurfaces. Never-the-less, find space to squeeze it in whenever you get that window of opportunity while in the same room with them, in a car or anywhere for that matter.
5. Reward Them Frequently: Once your teen starts driving, you may not think stickers work but other forms of rewards still get to them. Thank them for driving safe this week with a treat that they did not see coming. Then do it again in a couple of weeks, or impromptu on a random Thursday evening. When they see the authenticity in the pleasure it gives you to see them safely home, again, it reinforces the need for them to be safe and soon they are going to be echoing your broad advice to their friends too.
6. Engage The Pediatrician: Chances are that your child has been seeing a pediatrician from birth for their routine checks and immunizations. They often are used to these “parent figures” and will most likely take and act on advice from the doctor than they would from any parent. Thus engaging and making sure the pediatrician talks about safe driving at the next and subsequent doctors office visit may be a great addition to your child succeeding in becoming a safe driver. Engage a good local pediatrician and that teen driver is most likely going to be on their way to success.
