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kids

Moving with a full house? Embrace the challenge by making it enjoyable for everyone – especially if little ones and furry friends are involved.

To ensure a seamless and stress-free move, Penske Truck Rental encourages these tips to prepare your precious cargo for the big day.

Moving With Kids

Children and toddlers may not be able to fully grasp an impending move. Avoid major moving meltdowns by:

  • Discussing the move – Prepare your children by talking about the move as soon as possible. The way you share this information will depend on age – toddlers may benefit if toys and stories are involved with this discussion.
  • Planning for a new school – Have recent report cards, transcripts, birth certificates, medical records, etc., readily available to make for an easy transition.
  • Designing their new space – Show your children pictures of their new room. Let them decide where furniture will go and what the space will look like.
  • Reading about moving – Utilize external resources – like children's books – to further prepare your little ones. Moving stories for kids include The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day, by Stan and Jan Bernstein and Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe, by Susan Patron.
  • Making a memory book – Give your kids a camera or smartphone and let them take pictures of your house, school, friends and other memorable locations. Afterwards, compile all the pictures into a memory book.
  • Letting them pack a "moving day" box – Let your children pack some of their favorite toys and belongings. This box can occupy them during the drive.
  • Finding new friends – Research clubs and organizations in the area. If your child is already involved in sports or scouting, reach out to those groups ahead of time to help form new connections.

Moving With Pets

Like children, four-legged friends need to be prepped before a big move. Before hitting the open road, keep your pets safe, calm and comfortable by:

  • Researching veterinary hospitals and emergency animal care centers in the area – Store these numbers and addresses in your cell phone.
  • Consulting a vet if your pet suffers from anxiety or motion sickness – Medications may be prescribed to help your furry friend feel better.
  • Packing a travel bag for your pet – Include water, food, treats, plastic bags, etc,.
  • Buying new ID tags with your new address – Before the move, add a tag to their collar with your new address and cell phone number. You may want to consider microchip technology – a chip placed under your pet's skin – that stores their personal information.
  • Stocking up – Keep at least one week's worth of your pet's food and medication on hand.
  • Making sure your pet is up to date with vaccines – Certain states require a health certificate. Almost all states require a current rabies vaccine. Before embarking on your move, determine what kind of paperwork your pet needs and pack it in their travel bag.
  • Researching pet-friendly lodging – Traveling long-distance? If you need overnight lodging, make sure the hotel or motel you're staying at is pet-friendly.

Planning a move with children and pets? Penske Truck Rental offers unlimited miles on all one-way truck rentals, discounts for AAA members, college students and members of the military as well as packing supplies and 24/7 roadside assistance. Are you ready to make a reservation? Visit the Penske Truck Rental website for more information.

By Nicole Forktus

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A new school year is about to begin for millions of students across the country, bringing with it a return of school buses to the road and children walking to bus stops and neighborhood schools.

For motorists, including Penske Truck Rental’s do-it-yourself movers and Penske Logistics professional drivers, the additional pedestrian and bus traffic will mean taking a few extra precautions.

Recognizing this, Penske and AAA have provided some tips for drivers to navigate school zones to help keep children safe.

A new school year brings with it excitement for children filled with meeting new teachers and classmates and reconnecting with old friends. The surge of emotion can distract children from making good choices when walking to bus stops and schools.

“During the first couple of months, you need to be even more alert because students might make unpredictable moves,” said Chuck Pagesy, director of safety for Penske. “These are young children, and they may not make the best decisions. They could run out in the street chasing a ball or another object.”

When entering a school zone, drivers should follow any speed restrictions related to that school zone – whether it is a flashing sign with red lights or just a posted speed limit.

Consumer renters should take special care in school zones with stopped buses or children crossing the street. “Many of our larger rental vehicles are sitting up higher, and the hood could potentially obstruct seeing a young child in front of one of our trucks,” Pagesy cautioned.

Drivers should also keep an eye out for crossing guards and follow their instructions.

“And just because an intersection does not have a crossing guard doesn’t mean you won’t come upon young children who may dart across the road. There is that risk potential,” Pagesy said.

Risks do not disappear when drivers are out of the school zone. Drivers should be watchful at dismissal times for young children in the neighborhood surrounding the school.

AAA offers these additional tips for drivers:

  • Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
  • Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
  • Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. And children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving, for example.
  • Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles.
  • Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least 3 feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride. Find videos, expert advice and safety tips at ShareTheRoad.AAA.com.
  • Talk to your teen.Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and a large portion of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips at AAA.com.

Do you have tips for readying your children for the new school year?

Share them in the comment section below.

Are you an AAA member planning a household move? Penske is AAA’s exclusive truck rental partner offering AAA members discounts on truck rentals and moving supplies. Penske Truck Rental offers free unlimited miles on all one-way truck rentals, discounts for college students and members of the military as well as packing supplies and 24/7 roadside assistance. Are you ready to make a reservation? Visit the Penske Truck Rental website for more information.

By Bernie Mixon

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