Your AAA Magazine August 2017

We’ve got everything you need to make back-to-school season a success, from tips on how to choose a preschool to what buildings and services you should check out on your college campus. In the market for a new car? We’ll show you all the latest parent-friendly features available. And if chocolate’s your jam – and really, whose jam isn’t chocolate – we’ve got the best spots to grab an ooey, gooey s’mores dessert that will make you forget all about those marshmallow-on-a-stick concoctions you ate at camp.

Articles

Slow Down: Lives Are on the Line

Slow down, move over laws vary slightly by state. Learn about your state's specific law and keep emergency responders safe at the roadside.

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College Road Trips: Places to See on Your College Search

There’s hardly a parent with a teenager contemplating college that hasn’t hit the road to visit potential schools. From simple afternoon visits to more complicated college road trips, it’s wise to book some noncollege-oriented activities to offset some of the pressure. After all, when both you and your child are deciding their future for the...

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Back to School Insurance Risks

With a busy school year in sight, now is a great time to make sure your insurance policies are up to snuff.

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AAA Trainer: Get Your Kicks at Recess

Besides being fun, recess is a great way for schoolkids to release pent-up energy during the day. It also helps children build social skills, improve their health through physical activity, and learn through unstructured play, according to the Council on School Health. Despite all the benefits, only four states – Connecticut, Indiana, Missouri and Virginia...

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Go Low on Spirits

You’re at a cocktail mixer at a business conference or on the first night of your fabulous tropical-resort getaway. You’ve decided to have just one drink. Why then, when it’s finished, do you find yourself ordering another? “Alcohol produces what is known as disinhibition,” said George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse...

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Back to School Means Great Rates on Vacations

The start of a new school year means different things to different people. For kids, it means homework. For parents, it means frantic early mornings and afternoons. For teachers, it means stacks of papers and projects. But for travelers, it means one of the year’s best travel windows has arrived. It’s when the summer crowds...

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Safety Tips for Kids Who Walk or Bike to School

Today’s students aren’t biking or walking to school like they used to. Just 13 percent of students ages 5 to 14 walked or biked to class in 2009 compared with 48 percent 50 years earlier, according to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Time, convenience, distance, weather and safety were barriers to walking or...

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Parent-Friendly Features in Cars

It’s a fact of family life: With a growing family often comes the need for a new car. In addition to picking one with high crash-test ratings and plenty of room, there are other car features that will give parents peace of mind on the road. Backup camera Being a parent means you’ll be in...

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Deion Sanders’ 1974 Toyota Celica

One of the best cornerbacks in NFL history, Pro Football Hall of Famer “Prime Time” Deion Sanders has become one of the most electrifying personalities on television. When he’s not on TV as a football analyst, Sanders partners with Stand Together, a nonprofit that helps individuals in Dallas escape poverty, and Prime 5, an initiative...

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Test Drive: 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid

For 2017, the Kia Optima offers a model for just about every taste. It’s available as a gas model, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, each with a variety of trim levels to suit any desire, from sporty to luxurious. After receiving refreshed styling for 2016, the gas-only 2017 Kia Optima comes with three engines...

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Cool Places to Study Abroad

Whether you want to explore a new culture, pick up a new language or just spread your scholarly wings, here are some of the top spots to study abroad.

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10 School Backpack Essentials

Your child’s backpack is a kind of bridge between home and school, a place to carry essential supplies. But carrying around a pack all day can take its toll. Help your child start the school year off right with a backpack that fits correctly and fill it with all the necessities.

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10 Ways to Supplement Your Child’s Education

How to supplement your curious child's education at home – and have fun at the same time.

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10 Ways to Help Your Kids Get Through School Stress

Try these strategies if you feel like your child could use some help juggling priorities or coping with school stress.

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10 Things to Look For in a Private School

Selecting a school for a child is one of the most important decisions a family makes. For those with the means to pay for education, private elementary schools and secondary schools regularly offer smaller class sizes, a more flexible curriculum and religious studies. A report from EducationNext, a scholarly journal published by Stanford University, also...

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10 Ways to Avoid College Weight Gain

It's common to put on a few pounds when you first start college. Follow these tips to avoid the dreaded freshman 15.

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10 Things to Know About High School Sports

So, your son or daughter wants to play high school sports. Whether this is your child’s first foray into athletics or the latest step in a career that began with T-ball, here's what you should know.

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10 Considerations When Choosing a Preschool

Spend enough time with toddlers, and they’ll surprise you. Sometimes, it’s by using an unexpected word or phrase. Other times, it’s by running, jumping or climbing with unexpected skill. These acts demonstrate the impressive growth occurring during a child’s earliest years. What children learn, and how, during this period can have lifelong effects. That may...

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10 Fun School Lunches to Pack Your Kids

Easy recipes that will pack lunch bags full of nutrients and appeal to all appetites.

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10 Places Worth Checking Out on College Campuses

Becoming familiar with each of these campus spots as soon as possible will be valuable on the road from freshman to alum.

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10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conference

The parent-teacher conference is a rare opportunity to sit down for one-on-one time with your child’s teacher. They are a chance for a two-way discussion of your child’s progress that goes far beyond test scores and report cards. They also offer an opportunity to establish a partnership with the teacher so that you can work...

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Is Your Battery Zapped?

Car batteries hate extreme temperatures. It’s one reason so many fail in the summer heat. Periodically disconnecting the car battery to clean its terminals with water and baking soda can help extend its life, said AAA’s Car Doctor John Paul. But all automotive batteries will fail eventually. Here are a few signs yours is on...

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