The Minivan Should Not Be a Battlefield - Buckle Up for Tween Seat Safety

My oldest child is turning 10 at the end of September. And he’s in full tween mode. Which means everything involves debate and compromises, and debates and compromises — see where I’m going with this? But here’s one rule that should not be up for debate – the car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. My mother had this rule with my brother and I and I have this rule with my children. We say it and buckle up ourselves and our kids have to buckle up. And if they don’t, that’s a fight worth having. It might just save your tween’s life.

Did you know that one child passenger age 8 – 14 is injured every 8 minutes in a car crash? From 2009 – 2013, 1,522 kids ages 8-14 died in car, SUV and van crashes. Of those who died, almost half were unbelted. As children get older they’re sometimes less likely to buckle up. The percentage of child passengers who die while riding unrestrained generally increases with age and is most pronounced among 13 and 14-year-olds regardless of seating position.

Check out this Battlefield MiniVan Video:

Buckling-up is an important habit to instill in children at a young age. Parents can lead by example by wearing a seat belt themselves and by insisting on seat belt use for every passenger in their vehicle. Seat belts and safety seats, if used correctly, dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury to children.