(ARA) – Your 4-year-old may already know how to tie their own shoelaces and spell out their first and last names. But as preschool looms around the corner, are you worried how well they’ll fit in with the rest of the classroom?
According to a nationwide survey conducted of 1,000 parents by Mom Central Inc. on behalf of Hasbro Inc., the majority of parents feel the same way with 90 percent considering social skills to be vital to their children’s happiness and confidence.
Nearly eight out of 10 parents also think social skills are more important than academic skills when it comes to their child’s overall happiness. As a matter of fact, parents gave social skills a higher ranking than academic skills on the survey in nearly every area of child development.
“More than ever, our children must get along with others to function effectively,” says Stacy DeBroff, chief executive officer of Mom Central, found at www.momcentral.com. “In this age of team sports and structured play, it has never been more critical for our children to master socialization skills. From children’s play groups to collaboration in the classroom, kids today engage in significantly more structured group activities, raising the profile and the necessity for good social skills.”
According to the survey, one in five parents feel overwhelmed with teaching social skills and more than one-third say that teaching social skills leads to frustration. In response, Stacy DeBroff has developed some tips parents can use to help their child learn social skills in a positive and reinforcing way:
* Lead by example.
Children are excellent observers. If they see Mom and Dad using polite language, sharing and being respectful, they will follow their parents’ guidance.
* Play with them in an educational way.
Children love to play games with their parents because it provides them with direct attention. Noodleboro by Hasbro is a new line of board games, which includes storybooks and audio CDs that nurture preschoolers’ social skills through laughter and play.
* Take a problem-solving approach.
If a situation becomes stressful, encourage your child to talk about the issues they might have with saying “please,” and “thank you” or sharing their toys with their friends. By allowing children to talk, they often discover for themselves what’s causing the problem while also coming up with unique ways in which they will be able to handle themselves.
“It’s more than just manners… it’s sharing, it’s listening, and it’s engaging with others. The Noodleboro games offer an innovative way to use a classic board game to reward and challenge kids as they learn valuable social skills,” says DeBroff.
(ARA) - As you re-examine your monthly expenses to cover the escalating costs of food and fuel, it’s important to consider life insurance in your plans. While it may be tempting to think a life insurance policy is out of reach in today’s economy, it’s actually more affordable than you think -- especially if you plan for it in the same way you budget for everything else.
The reason for doing so is simple. Most of us dream of being financially secure to enjoy life’s pleasures and to protect loved ones. We all hope to achieve milestones such as purchasing a home, having children, enjoying vacations, sending the kids to college and having a nest egg for retirement.
We also have the best of intentions to save and put money aside if emergencies arise, but as we all know, it’s very challenging. However, preparing a financial plan can help you navigate through life’s events to achieve these goals. A critical component of a sound plan is life insurance, the backbone of financial security.
“As the saying goes, it’s always better to be prepared, and life insurance can help you plan for the unexpected,” says Christopher Pinkerton, president of the United States division of Foresters, a leading fraternal benefit society that provides members innovative life insurance products and membership benefits. “People often believe they can’t afford this type of protection, but in reality, they can’t afford not to -- it ensures financial security for both today and tomorrow.”
Life Insurance Costs Decreasing
As the cost of everyday essentials rises -- from gas to groceries -- you’d think the cost of life insurance would, too. However, the average cost of term life insurance has decreased significantly in the past decade, according to statistics from the Insurance Information Institute.
For example, a 40-year-old nonsmoking man healthy enough to qualify as a standard risk paid $1,300 per year for a $500,000, 20-year plan in 1996. In 2008, a man in the same circumstances could expect to pay $725 per year.
Why does life insurance cost less today? The good news is people are living longer due to positive lifestyle changes and improvements in medical technology. The average man will now live until 75 instead of 70. The average woman will live to 80 instead of 77, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Increased life expectancy has resulted in lower premium rates.
Budget-friendly Protection
How do you put aside money for life insurance when your wallet is already being stretched? Start by creating a month-by-month budget, setting a savings goal and projecting your financial needs. A qualified professional financial advisor can help you assess your situation, determine future goals and show you how to achieve these milestones.
Minor adjustments to everyday spending habits can also have a big impact. For example, if you choose to carpool to save on gas, consider a similar adjustment to pay for life insurance, such as going out to dinner less often. Say you eat out once a week and the bill averages $50. By sacrificing one dinner a month, you can afford a quality life insurance policy and provide needed protection for you and your family.
“By investing a relatively small amount monthly for a quality life insurance policy, you are taking a positive step toward ensuring that your family can keep the house, send the kids to college or sustain the family’s livelihood if there’s a loss of one or both income providers,” says Pinkerton. “Some life insurance products can also provide savings and investment options for a home, a family bequest or even a vacation.”
Including life insurance in your budget can help keep you and your loved ones financially healthy for whatever the future may bring, filling the gap between financial needs and financial realities. Everyone, no matter whether you are single, married and starting a family, or entering retirement, needs life insurance because it provides financial protection for an uncertain future.
Where to Start
A good first step is to try an insurance-needs calculator to estimate how much life insurance you may require. Conventional wisdom recommends households should carry anywhere between five to 10 times their annual income in life insurance. You can find a calculator at: www.foresters.com/calculator.
Following this, find a qualified financial professional you can really talk to who understands your needs. A customized approach, identifying financial goals and priorities, as well as an analysis of your financial needs and risk tolerance is a critical part of the process. From there, you and your advisor can decide what type of life insurance and how much is right for you.
For more information on your life insurance needs and to find a qualified life insurance representative, visit www.foresters.com
(ARA) – With the economy reeling and home loan rates at a nine-month high, lenders are scrutinizing everyone’s credit history like never before. Yet, many Americans don’t realize the impact of late payments on their credit score and their finances.
In fact, mortgage loan delinquency reached a national average high of 3.23 percent for the first three months of 2008, according to Trend Data from TransUnion.
“Being knowledgeable about your credit standing is becoming increasingly more important by the day,” says Lucy Duni, vice president of TrueCredit.com. “Businesses, ranging from insurance companies to wireless providers and some employers, are now reviewing consumer credit information as a routine part of their application processes.”
When it comes to credit, knowing fact from fiction and understanding how to act is critical. Here are some common credit myths that may be preventing you from engaging in effective credit management:
Myth: My score will drop if I check my credit.
Fact: Checking your own reports and scores is considered a “soft inquiry” and has no negative impact on your credit score.
Myth: Reviewing any one of my three credit reports occasionally will tell me everything I need to know about my credit standing.
Fact: Occasional monitoring will give an incomplete snapshot of your credit standing. You should, instead, check all three of your credit reports and scores frequently throughout the year because the information and scores contained in each of those reports can vary at any given point in time.
Myth: There’s only one score that all lenders use to determine my credit-worthiness.
Fact: There are literally hundreds of different scoring models used by lenders in the marketplace today.
Myth: Closing old credit card accounts will clean up your credit reports.
Fact: Some people advocate closing old and inactive accounts as a way to manage their credit. In most cases, closing your older accounts will make your credit history appear shorter, which can negatively impact your overall credit standing.
Myth: Once you pay off a delinquent loan or credit card balance, the item is removed from your credit report.
Fact: Negative information such as late payments, collection accounts and bankruptcies will remain on your credit reports for up to seven years. Certain types of bankruptcies stick around for up to 10 years. Paying off the delinquent account won’t remove it from your credit report, but it will update the account to indicate it as “paid.”
Myth: If I don’t pay a medical bill on time because I believe it is incorrect, I can’t be held accountable.
Fact: If you fail to pay a medical bill in a timely manner, the delinquent payment may be reported as late to a credit bureau. If you believe a medical bill you have received is wrong or was sent to you in error, it’s best to contact the provider to resolve or discuss the matter prior to the bill becoming past due.
Myth: The “credit bureaus” report people as having either good or bad credit.
Fact: Credit reporting companies compile information that is provided directly and voluntarily by consumer lenders. If you have a credit card, home or auto loan, or make other monthly payments, details of your payment track record on these are likely being reported by those parties.
For more details about credit myths, visit TrueCredit.com.
(ARA) – The latest rage in home improvement is an “outrage” – the new a.k.a. for the still-booming trend of expanding outdoor living spaces.
Long gone are the days when homeowners were satisfied with a simple deck, a beat-up grill and some basic patio furniture. The “Outrage” trend brings living rooms, baths, home spas, full kitchens and even meditation rooms into the great outdoors. Stone fireplaces, built-in grills, water features, multiple levels for patios and decks, hot tubs and even flat-screen TVs – all the luxurious appointments of indoor life are finding their way into outdoor environments.
Demand is high for building and decorating materials that blend luxury and beauty with durability and weather resistance. Appliances need to withstand climate changes and exposure to the elements. Furniture needs to be trendy, tasteful and able to stand up to Mother Nature. Flooring, in particular, must blend beauty and strength.
Ceramic tile, long favored for indoor areas that require a perfect balance of looks and durability, is emerging as a preferred outdoor building material. Ceramic tile transitions smoothly from indoor to outdoor living spaces, offering the ability to endure extreme temperature changes and other natural forces. Plus, new innovations in digital printing and gorgeously designed products from producers of Tile of Spain make it a high design choice.
The “Outrage” lifestyle focuses on turning homes into a personal oasis. Ceramic tile reminds consumers of the luxurious experience they find in upscale spas and resorts, where ceramic tile is often the material of choice for common areas. What’s more, technological advances have produced tile that evokes the look of some very hot decorating trends.
For example, Tile of Spain manufacturer Apavisa makes a Lava series tile that resembles industrial poured concrete (an up-and-coming design look). Unlike concrete, however, the tile is resistant to extremes of heat and cold, won’t crumble or crack, and will look newly installed for years to come. The look is ideal for outdoor pools, hot tubs or cabanas.
Meditation rooms are cropping up in homes and offices around the world. Manufacturer Roca has developed a Zen tile that looks like the raked sand of an Asian garden. A perfect foundation for an outdoor retreat, the tile transitions easily indoors as the floor of a personal meditation sanctuary.
While decks remain a key component of the “Outrage” trend, environmental and durability concerns have homeowners looking for building materials other than wood. If a composite deck, made of recycled materials, isn’t to your liking, it’s possible to achieve the look of wood in a durable ceramic tile. Grespania’s Escandinavia series resembles wooden planks, grain and character included. Easy to maintain and clean, this tile delivers the charm and look of wood with the added environmental perk that no trees need be cut to create it.
For more ideas on how to incorporate ceramic tile into your “Outrageous” outdoor living space, visit www.spaintiles.info.
(ARA) - As teens head back to the classroom this fall, they’ll be assigned a lot of homework in the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Important to students’ success will be the homework parents do in teaching two other “Rs”: role modeling and responsibility.
“A parent’s words and actions provide powerful role modeling,” explains Lonnie Carton, PhD, director of teen and family resources for the Web-based “Warm2Kids” program and an advisory panel member of the “Family Talk About Drinking” program. “They teach teens what kind of behavior is expected of them and how to make good decisions. Responsible decisions include obeying the law and not getting involved in underage drinking.”
Although some parents think peer pressure is the major cause of underage drinking, the fact is parents, not peers, have the greatest influence on their teens’ choices related to this issue. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report(TM) , 71 percent of teenagers 13 to 17 say their parents are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether to drink.
“Parents who communicate with their sons and daughters regularly, openly and honestly on a variety of issues find it much easier to talk with and listen to them on sensitive subjects like alcohol,” Carton advises. “At the start of this new school year, I encourage mothers and fathers to take the time to sit down with their children. Discuss expectations, and emphasize the importance of making wise choices not only about underage drinking but about all other decisions.”
Carton offers these guidelines to parents for remaining a positive influence in the lives of teens:
Be Factual. Give teens the facts about underage drinking in a calm, clear manner. Simply say something like, “It’s against the law for anyone under 21 to use alcohol; our family obeys the law and we expect you to do the same.”
Know Your Child’s Friends and Their Parents. Being aware of other families’ values and rules will help you better understand what pressure your child’s friends may be putting on him or her.
Get Help if You Need It. Be aware of any changes in your teen’s behavior or attitude such as suddenly doing poorly in school, hanging out with a different group of friends whom you don't know, or becoming disinterested in sports, music or other activities which once meant a lot, etc. If such changes occur, seek professional advice right away.
For more tips and information on responsible role-modeling, visit www.myspace.com/positiveparenting. For “Family Talk About Drinking” materials, visit www.familytalkonline.com or call (800) 359-TALK (1-800-359-8255). The materials are provided free-of-charge as a community service of Anheuser-Busch.
(ARA) - Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding pull-down attic stair, a whole house fan, a fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.
Drafts from these often overlooked holes waste energy and cost you big in the form of higher energy bills.
Drafts are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Drafts occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits that caulk and weather-stripping provide to minimize energy loss and drafts.
But what can you do about drafts from the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan, the fireplace and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.
Attic Stairs
When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only a thin, unsealed, sheet of plywood.
Your attic space is ventilated directly to the outdoors. In the winter, the attic space can be very cold, and in the summer it can be very hot. And what is separating your conditioned house from your unconditioned attic? That thin sheet of plywood.
Often a gap can be observed around the perimeter of the attic door. Try this yourself: at night, turn on the attic light and shut the attic stairway door -- do you see any light coming through? If you do, heated and air-conditioned air is leaking out of these large gaps in your home 24-hours a day. This is like leaving a window or skylight open all year ‘round.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an insulated attic stair cover. An attic stair cover seals the stairs, stopping drafts and energy loss. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.
Whole House Fans and Air Conditioning Vents
Much like attic stairs above, when whole house fans are installed, a large hole (up to 16 square feet or larger) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed, leaving only the drafty ceiling shutter between you and the outdoors.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan shutter seal. Made from white textured flexible insulation, the shutter seal is installed over the ceiling shutter, secured with Velcro, and trimmed to fit. The shutter seal can also be used to seal and insulate air conditioning vents, and is easily removed when desired.
Fireplaces
Sixty-five percent, or over 100 million homes, in North America are constructed with wood or gas burning fireplaces. Unfortunately there are negative side effects that the fireplace brings to a home, especially during the winter heating season. Fireplaces are energy losers.
Researchers have studied this to determine the amount of heat loss through a fireplace, and the results are amazing. One research study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by 30 percent.
A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the drafts and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.
Why does a home with a fireplace have higher energy bills? Your chimney is an opening that leads directly outdoors -- just like an open window. Even if the damper is shut, it is not air-tight. Glass doors don’t stop the drafts either. The fireplace is like a giant straw sucking your expensive heated or air-conditioned air right out of your house!
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a Fireplace Plug to your fireplace. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, the Fireplace Plug is an inflatable pillow that seals the fireplace damper, eliminating drafts, odors, and noise. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts
In many homes, the room with the clothes dryer is the coldest room in the house. Your clothes dryer is connected to an exhaust duct that is open to the outdoors. In the winter, cold drafts in through the duct, through your dryer and into your house.
Dryer vents use a sheet-metal flapper to try to reduce these drafts. This is very primitive technology that does not provide a positive seal to stop the drafts. Compounding the problem is that over time, lint clogs the flapper valve causing it to stay open.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted drafts, and also keeps out pests, bees and rodents. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.
For more information on Battic Door’s energy conservation solutions and products for your home, visit www.batticdoor.com or, to request a free catalog, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048.
(ARA) - Helping a parent move to senior housing can seem more intimidating than orchestrating a rocket launch.
The death of a spouse, declining health or safety concerns can trigger the need to move. The first phase comes with the realization that what has been home is no longer suitable.
Emotional ties to a place are hard to overcome. Finding a new home that is appealing and appropriate is no easy task, and neither is culling through a lifetime’s accumulation of “stuff.”
It may not take a rocket scientist to work through this multi-phase life change. But finding a professional who knows the ropes can make it easier for the more than 29 percent of home sellers age 65 and older who move into an active-adult community or senior-related housing each year.
That professional may be a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), an agent who receives special training and demonstrates the expertise to navigate the unique housing needs of clients age 50 and older. “Services to seniors are changing to meet the lifestyles we live. Senior communities are changing to meet the expectations of baby boomers and today’s retirees, too,” says Carol Kairis, managing director, SRES Council and Specialties, National Association of Realtors.
“The range of senior housing options is diverse and would surprise many Americans who often think of senior housing as only nursing homes. Assisted living facilities address the needs of those who need support services, and continuing care retirement communities are wonderful options for those who wish to age in place.”
Nationwide, more than 16,000 realtors have attained the SRES designation. In the same way a real estate agent recommends a plumber or landscaper to a client, an SRES agent assembles a team to address client needs -- repair companies, professional organizers, estate sales agents, and senior move managers who pack, transport and unpack in the new location.
“An SRES agent can help you develop a strategy, then bring in a team to help take one room at a time to organize and dispose of goods. They can help you decide where you’re going to go, and recommend a mover,” says Armand Christopher, a seasoned SRES real estate broker and member of the SRES National Advisory Board of the National Association of Realtors.
Christopher has an active practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and offers these tips no matter where seniors live:
1. Plan ahead. Don’t wait for a health crisis to start the process. The smoothest transitions occur when the person moving is in the driver’s seat.
2. Engage professionals. SRES agents understand the dynamics of a senior move. They are trained about the benefits and drawbacks of reverse mortgages and can help you understand how to use pensions, 401K accounts and IRAs in real estate transactions. They also know how Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will affect your real estate decisions.
3. Get a full assessment of the current situation. Physical care needs and financial resources are where to start. Consider the costs of staying in place, including renovation and ongoing maintenance. Add the cost of rising utility bills and taxes, and don’t forget transportation and food. Make a list and decide whether it’s cheaper to stay or move to a community designed for seniors.
4. Take a multi-phase approach. Christopher says his customers often take longer than a year to actually make the move. An SRES agent can connect the senior with professionals to help walk through the process.
5. Fully explore new housing options. Senior living offers a broader range of options than ever before. SRES agents have an understanding of the services each type of community can provide and can best match the client with the right place.
Christopher and other SRES professionals use SNAPforSeniors (www.snapforseniors.com), an online search tool that is akin to the Multiple Listing Service for senior housing. The SNAPforSeniors database includes more than 60,000 licensed senior housing facilities in the country and is available at no charge.
“It’s a great tool,” Christopher says. “Especially when adult children live out of state and are working with their parents on a move, I tell them about options I find on SNAPforSeniors. Typically seniors want to relocate close to their children, and the online search allows adult children and their parents to search research options and start the search together.”
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