by Flagship Staff | Mar 27, 2017 | Blog
Being a parent, running from activity to activity with your children can be taxing on everyone. But more than any other activity, the benefits of enrolling your children in swimming lessons cannot be overlooked. Not only do swimming lessons provide a lifesaving set of skills, it’s surprisingly good for the body and the brain.
Here are five keys reasons to consider swim lessons for your children and how you can find great swimming options for your family near you.
1. Swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning.
When it comes to the health of your children, consider the benefits of diving in the deep end. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death among all age groups of children, but especially for children aged 1–4 years. The best way to counteract this statistic — enroll your children in swimming lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics found that children enrolled in swimming lessons had an 88% reduced risk of drowning.
More interestingly, it is estimated that 37% of adult Americans cannot swim, according to the Centers for Disease Control. So if you fall into this minority, consider joining your children in their weekly lessons.
2. Swimming does a body good.
Swimming is a great recreational sport that can be used for many types of fitness activities and fun. Time spent in the pool works every muscle, from head to toe, and can actually help youngsters develop long, lean muscles and general muscle endurance. Not only that, the gentle, low-impact nature of swimming is great for growing bodies, improving flexibility, and strengthening core muscles.
3. Physical activity boosts brainpower.
There is no arguing science when it comes to the link between fitness and academic achievement. Study after study has shown that when children are active, their test scores and overall academic achievement increases. In fact, researchers have found that math scores, in particular, can improve greatly when young children engage in physical fitness activities, whether it is swimming or just playing a game of tag.
4. Low cost to get started.
Unlike other sports and recreational activities, swimming requires very little investment in equipment. Most people own a swimsuit, and that is usually all you need to get started. If your child progresses in the sport, you may need to invest in a good pair of goggles and a swim cap, but the cost comparison to other individual and team sports is substantially lower.
5. Kids who swim get the benefits of individual and team dynamics.
Sports and physical activities push children out of their comfort zones when it comes to competing, physical capabilities, and working as a team. Recreational swimming provides independent and group challenges, encouraging children to hone their individual skills and work together to help one another in games and group activities. Competitive swimming has many event options, including both individual and team races. So regardless of the activities or the level of competition your children choose to participate in, swimming can provide great skill development when it comes to confidence, teamwork, encouragement, and friendly competition.
How To Find Swimming Lessons Near You
Finding the right location to enroll your children in swimming lessons doesn’t need to be difficult. Check out these great local options near you.
Find Your Local YMCA
With a focus on the community, many YMCA’s offer a variety of educational and sports activities for youth. Find a YMCA in your local community using the handy search option on the homepage of the YMCA USA website. Once you pinpoint the locations near you, determine if your local YMCA has a pool and check out their class schedules.
Check Your Local Community Education Programs
Many local community education programs offer swimming lessons at high schools and community pools. Many communities have a Seasonal Recreator or Program Guide, which outlines the upcoming activity and sport schedules offered to local residents. Check out your local recreation department to see if they offer classes for youngsters in your area. Be aware that some smaller communities join together and offer services at a central community location.
Private Swimming Schools
As with many sports nowadays, there has been an increase in the number of privately-run institutions. Swimming schools are no exception. While the costs are often higher at a private swim school, you know you are getting true expertise with highly-trained staff and facilities dedicated solely to swimming education. Use your local Google search to find swim schools in your area.
Swimming offers many great benefits for your children. I wish you the best of luck as you search for the right swimming options for your family.
Do you have swim lesson experience(s) you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them. Please share them in the box below.
by Flagship Staff | Mar 20, 2017 | Blog
When deciding whether to buy or rent, there are many factors to consider, including, but not limited to, job stability, relocation, and relationships. When it comes to financing, costs associated with owning a home include the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance – which, as many people know, can be never ending! And that’s not all. Many millennials graduate from college with thousands of dollars of debt.
With all of those expensive variables, it’s understandable that saving for a down payment isn’t a priority. So many millennials choose to rent.
One important cost that applies to both owners and renters is insurance. Yes, that’s right! Most landlords require this as part of the lease agreement. Even if it’s not in the lease, it’s in your best interest to carry insurance for your personal property, as well as for liability.
You may think you don’t have much to insure, however if you take inventory of everything you own, it adds up quickly. If you had to replace all of your personal property, including clothes, shoes, furniture, electronics, small appliances, sporting equipment, etc., it could certainly cause a significant financial setback. With a renter’s policy, minimum property coverage starts around $30,000 and, if you needed them, you could get higher limits.
Most people understand property coverages, however, personal liability, which is a much greater exposure, is often overlooked. Personal liability comes into play if your actions are responsible for someone else’s injury. Here are some examples: You leave a box on your apartment steps and someone trips on it. You’re responsible for snow removal and a passer-by slips on the icy sidewalk. You accidentally hit a child while flying your drone. A friend runs into a post while trying out your new hover-board. If an accident like this occurs and you’re responsible, you’d have to pay for medical treatments, tests, surgeries, prescriptions, plus their time off of work … all out of your own pocket. It’s frightening! A standard renter’s policy includes personal liability coverage which could help protect you if you’re found negligent and responsible for someone else’s injuries. Minimum liability limits start at $100,000 and can be purchased up to $1million.
Finally, what if a fire destroyed your apartment building and you had nowhere to live? The renter’s policy also provides coverage for additional living expenses. This covers any necessary increases in living expenses while you’re displaced because of a covered loss. You may have to stay in a hotel, eat out, board a pet, or incur increased mileage to get to work. These costs would be covered until you’re able to move back into your apartment.
A basic renter’s policy is fairly affordable. For as little as $150 a year, you’d have broad protection and peace of mind while you save for that American dream of owning a home!
by Flagship Staff | Mar 13, 2017 | Blog
Homeowners looking to get the best price for their home are learning that if you want to sell quickly and score big profits, you need to remove clutter and make the place look inviting, not lived in.
Staging your house can help you sell it faster and possibly bring you more money, say many real estate professionals. The cost to stage a home is typically less than 1 percent of the list price and the return is typically 1 to 5 percent over the list price.
Homeowners can hire a staging company, work with a real estate agency that does the staging for its clients or do it themselves. Here are 11 tips for staging your home that will have a positive impact on its price and appeal:
1. Give your home curb appeal
Most buyers start their home search on the Internet. Often their first impression of your home is a photo of the outside. Before you take that photo, be sure you have spruced up the grounds of the house by weeding, mulching, trimming back trees and bushes, and power washing your siding and walkways.
2. Depersonalize and declutter
When buyers come into your house, it’s important they be able to visualize themselves living there. So take down anything personal, including family photos, collections, diplomas or awards, replace them with generic artwork and photos.
3. Clean your house
Make your house shine by cleaning everything including the inside of your appliances, the baseboards and windows. Change your air filters and clean out your gutters. This will show buyers that you do regular maintenance on the house.
4. Get rid of odors
If you’re a smoker or have a pet, it’s important to get rid of odors. Be careful of using air fresheners, because many are too strong and they might suggest you are trying to hide something. Open the windows instead.
5. Neutralize colors
Potential homebuyers might not love the dark purple accent wall in the dining room as much as you do, so it’s best to paint the walls a neutral color before you start showing the house. You don’t have to paint every wall white but it should be a neutral color that will appeal to a variety of people.
6. Turn up the lights
At every open house open every blind and curtain to let in as much light as possible. If a room seems too dark or the lamp is outdated, update the lighting fixture or buy new lamp. Make sure all the light bulbs in your house are working on the day of the open house.
7. Pare down furnishings
Oversized furniture can make a room feel smaller. Furniture is there to help the buyer visualize what the room is used for, but it’s best to minimize the number of pieces so the buyer can envision their own furniture in the room.
8. Accessorize
After you remove all the clutter add some accents such as interesting coffee table books, throw pillows and blankets on the sofa, a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter and matching towels in the bathroom.
9. Make repairs
If there is anything that clearly needs to be repaired or if there are any unfinished projects, you need to take care of them before the open house. No potential buyer wants to see unfinished work inside the house.
10. Clean out the closets and drawers
Potential buyers will open every closet, cabinet, drawer and door. You will want to display as much storage as possible. Use baskets to hold items that are normally just loose in drawers and in closets to make them look less cluttered. Professionals suggest removing 20 to 30 percent of what is inside each closet to show space between items that are hanging up. This will make the closet seem larger.
11. Check the floors
If the carpeting is stained, replace it. If you’re using an old area rug, remove it. If your wooden floors are scratched, cover them with inexpensive area rugs.
Staging a home is key to appealing to prospective buyers.
by Flagship Staff | Mar 6, 2017 | Blog
As a parent, you can expect your car insurance premiums to increase once your teen driver gets behind the wheel. In fact, adding a teenage driver to your policy can nearly double your premiums. Aside from encouraging your teenage child to take defensive driver lessons, follow these money-saving tips to cut down the cost of car insurance for teenagers.
1. Take advantage of multi-policy discounts
Getting your auto, home and life insurance from one company will not only save you time by having all your bills in one place, you can also save up to 25% on your policy by bundling your insurance policies.
2. Opt for higher deductibles
Having higher comprehensive and collision deductibles may increase your out-of-pocket expenses, but they can also save you hundreds of dollars by drastically reducing your overall premium. Taking advantage of Nationwide’s “Vanishing Deductible” option could help offset your higher deductible in the event of a claim.
3. Reward your child for good grades
If your teen driver is a full-time student with a B average or higher, they may be eligible for a good student discount. If the student is homeschooled, however, they must score in the top 20% of a standardized test such as the SAT.
4. Buy a safe and reliable car
High-end car models are more costly to insure, so opt for a more a practical vehicle equipped with safety features, such as anti-lock brake system (ABS), anti-theft devices and rearview cameras.
5. Get a pre-owned car
Car insurance rates for used cars are usually cheaper than new models, so forget that brand new SUV and drive away with a slightly older vehicle instead.
For a teenager, getting a driver’s license is a step towards independence, but it comes at the cost of higher insurance rates. By following the tips above and practicing safe driving habits, you can lower the cost of car insurance for your teenager.
Insurance terms, definitions and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies or declaration pages, which are controlling. Such terms and availability may vary by state and exclusions may apply. Discounts may not be applied to all policy coverages.
by Flagship Staff | Feb 27, 2017 | Blog
In the Midwest, coming out to a car covered in snow and ice is a common occurrence.
If you’re used to having your car buried in snow or covered with ice, here are some tips that can help you and your car survive the winter months.
1. Stand up your wipers. Lately, I’ve noticed more people doing this. If a winter storm is scheduled to start after you get to work, raise your windshield wipers off the glass. This will prevent them from being frozen to the windshield. Snow removal is much easier too. To take it a step further, you could cover your wipers with an old pair of socks or plastic grocery bags. Keeping snow and ice off your windshield wipers is important for a safe drive home.
2. Hand sanitizer. If you have an older car or a broken key fob, your door lock could freeze. If you have hand sanitizer with you, it’s your lucky day! Rub a small amount of hand sanitizer on the lock to melt the ice.
3. Frozen doors no more. Have you ever struggled to get a frozen car door open? If so, this could be a thing of the past. Cooking spray, which is a staple in most homes, can solve this problem. Gently apply cooking spray on the rubber around the door and the car frame to prevent freezing. Gently wipe off excess spray on the rubber with a paper towel or rag.
4. Scrapping side mirrors is a pain. If you don’t have heated side mirrors, scraping them can be difficult. As soon as you start scraping, the mirror moves. To prevent frosty side mirrors, cover them with a plastic bag. Make sure the bags are securely fastened with rubber bands.
5. Foggy windows are a pet peeve. Foggy, dirty windows drive us crazy in the winter. To help alleviate fog buildup on your windows, there are a number of tricks that can help.
Apply shaving cream and immediately wipe it off.
Buy Rain-X® Interior Glass Anti-Fog.
Fill an old sock with kitty litter and store it in your car. This trick will remove moisture from the air.
6. Apply Rain-X 2-in-1 glass cleaner with rain repellent. This cleaner works great! Not only does it clean your dirty salty windshield, it applies water beading technology. If your wipers make that awful noise in light rain or melting snow, Rain-X can help reduce the number of wipes and increase visibility.
7. Impenetrable windows. I’m sure you’ve experienced the impenetrable sheet of ice on your car. No matter how hard you try to scrape your windows, success is limited. To defeat the ice that prevents you from going where you need to go, simply mix a solution of 2/3 vinegar and 1/3 water. Put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the ice. It works like charm in melting the ice.
8. Stuck no more. 20 or 40 pounds of kitty litter stored in your trunk can serve several purposes. First, if placed over rear wheels, it can enhance traction. Second, if you deviated from the roadway and are now stuck, pour some of it out under your tires to help get traction. Cardboard or floor mats can also help get you back on the roadway. Simply place them under your tires.
Do you have any tips or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.
