Author: TWK Admin

Gaming May Not Be As Useless As Your Dad Claims

If you like to play video games, you’re probably no stranger to your dad complaining about how they’re a waste of time. Today, video games are so commonplace that they appear in many different forms, from mobile apps to VR headsets to handheld consoles. Whether you are searching for the top games of the year or nostalgic classics from the ‘80s, the truth is that video games have not only made a huge impact on society in entertainment value but also in the skills they are able to impart. Here are some of the useful skills video games can help you to develop.

Problem Solving

Believe it or not, playing Zelda games can actually accomplish more than just exploring all of Hyrule. Puzzle games like Ubisoft games and basically all Zelda games train the brain to find creative solutions to complex problems. Research suggests that popular mainstream games such as Call of Duty, League of Legends, and StarCraft can help improve the gamers’ problem-solving skills, attention span, and hand-eye coordination.

Job Preparation

Developing hand-eye coordination skills, better attention span, and problem-solving skills can be advantageous in any workplace. Different jobs may require skills that games can teach such as spatial orientation, information gathering, and better reaction time to emergency situations. According to L3HARRIS, airlines and overland freight companies routinely use simulators to train their workforce. Commercial airline pilots are required to practice emergency procedures in flight simulators and are required to pass a simulator assessment every six months. In addition, technology such as augmented reality made popular by Pokémon Go has already made its way into the workplace of engineering, manufacturing, and production jobs.

Stay Fit

Many professionally competitive gamers have been warned that staying fit is essential to maintain their game skills and reaction speed. Just as there are games to cover many subjects, there are games that can help improve fitness. According to Axtion Tech, activity-based games such as Just Dance and Dance Dance Revolution can provide a great workout. In addition, virtual reality activity games such as boxing, fencing, and speed skating can also provide intensive exercise.

Gaming as a teen is not a useless hobby. More and more people are recognizing the positive attributes that can be developed in a healthy gamer. You’ve just got to make sure to balance gaming with other things in your life. Gone are the days when games and gamers belong at the nerdy table. Contrary to what your dad may think, they can actually be quite useful.

5 Best Practices for Teens to Stay Safe Online

The internet is an essential part of our lives. It’s our go-to resource for everything from shopping to learning to entertainment. Being online has become an important aspect of the daily routine. This is true for both adults and children, and it’s especially true for teenagers. But with all the good must come bad, making proper safety a must for any online interactions. If you’re a teenager, taking a little time to learn about these best online practices for teen safety can help you know what to do to protect yourself when you go online.

Password Management

A password is the easiest way to keep a computer or account secure. It’s also the easiest way to screw things up. A weak password is only slightly better than no password, so take the time to come up with something a bit more complex than normal to protect your accounts and information. Strong passwords use capital and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols and anything else you could feasibly use to make them more random. You should also make it a point to use a new password for each account no matter how much of a pain it is, and don’t offer to save passwords on a shared computer.

Limit Where Your Information Is

No matter how cautious you might be, sometimes things go wrong. While things can go wrong in many ways, one of them is a data breach where a large company’s internal servers are hacked, and the information stored there is released to the public. The released data often includes the personal information of whoever uses their services. There are very few ways to protect your identity from data breaches as you have no control over their security, as seen quite clearly in the recent Equifax breach. About the only thing you can do to stop this from happening is to limit where your information is stored to begin with. Do you best to be careful about choosing which companies get what kind of information from you. A simple way to do this is to think over whether or not you’d like to connect accounts or fill out personal information, like addresses and phone numbers, when creating accounts on different websites.

Curate Your Web Presence

Curating your web presence is one way to help protect your identity while you’re online. The saying goes that nothing is ever gone on the internet, and, while that’s largely true, you can take steps to get close to that. Going back over the things you post to delete stuff that might be used against you is a good idea. Even if archives exist, it’s much more difficult for people to find this kind of stuff without lots of effort and digging on their part. It’s also a good idea to limit your presence to those you trust with the use of privacy settings on accounts, helping to eliminate prying eyes on your pages altogether.

Don’t Overshare

There’s an uncomfortable amount of oversharing that’s both seen as appropriate and often required when having a presence online. Whether you’re a famous YouTuber or just some random kid with a blog, the temptation and expectation are that you’ll update your followers on every aspect of your life. This is a bad idea if you intend to have any privacy whatsoever. Protect your privacy by speaking vaguely about identifying details in your life, and take care not to be too blatant about where you live or other things that might lead people to discover things you don’t want them to know. Additionally, try to remind yourself to question why you feel the need to post something else, especially when everyone, not just your friends and family, will be able to see it.

Set Boundaries

Above all else, setting boundaries with people you know online is a crucial skill to have. The internet has connected us in ways thought unimaginable even just a few decades ago, but this connectivity has also eroded our sense of privacy. Whether it’s with friends or just strangers lurking on your social media profile, set boundaries with how people interact with you. If someone’s asking for too much information, getting too friendly or is just generally making you uncomfortable, set boundaries. There’s no shame in asserting yourself.

The internet can be both an exciting and scary place, so it’s necessary to take some precautions in order to have a good time. Follow these best practices for safety to keep yourself out of trouble online.

Was this article helpful? Then you should definitely check out these other related articles from Teens Wanna Know:

3 Ways to Make a Great First Impression on Your Date

Entering your dating years can be both exciting and scary. Before you head out on a first date, it is important to have a plan. Being prepared will help make sure that the date goes well. But how do you make sure you make a good impression so the person will go out with you again? Take a look at these three great tips to make sure that your date night gives your date a great impression of you.

Get Creative

When looking to make a good impression on date night, be sure to get creative and think outside of the box. While dinner and movie is a fun activity every now and then, you will impress your date the most if you come up with something a little more inventive. Ideas to consider include volunteering together, hitting up a local farmers market for snacks and a walk around town, or a hike into the woods followed by a picnic.

Clean Up

When taking somebody out for the first time, you want to put your best step forward. The first thing that you need to consider is your physical appearance. Be sure to show up well-groomed and smelling nice in order to make the best first impression. Although you want to smell good, be careful not to overdo it with the cologne or perfume. While it can be a challenge to do it right, cleaning the inside as well as the outside of your car is key to a strong impression. You want your date to feel comfortable while riding in your vehicle. Taking the time to present yourself and your car in the best possible light will set a positive start for the date.

Be Engaging

While it may be tempting to talk about yourself on the date, be sure to make the effort to be engaging and involve your date in the conversation. It is a good idea to brainstorm possible conversation ideas prior to your date so that you do not feel stuck if you run out of things to say. Asking your date open-ended questions is a proven way to get them talking and conversation flowing. Really listen to what your date is saying, and you will be able to discern the best things to talk about. Maintaining good eye contact throughout the date is also a good way to stay engaging.

While dates can be intimidating, if you make sure you’re prepared, you’ll increase your chances of having a good time. You may feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, but do your best to be confident. That can do wonders for a good first impression. Dates are supposed to be fun, so don’t be afraid to let loose and have fun. If you follow the above tips, you’re sure to have a great time. Who knows, you might even get your first kiss!

3 Methods of Paying for College

If you’re a senior about to graduate and go to college, you’re probably wondering how you’re going to pay for it. Paying for school can be very stressful and expensive, but if you play your cards right, you’ll be able to find the funds to make it work. Take a look at these three methods you should consider when trying to figure out how to pay for college.

Work

Many people need to work while attending school. The key to accomplishing this is time management. Seek out a counselor who can help you prepare by teaching you the skills you will need in order to balance work and school. When job searching, look for a company that offers tuition reimbursement. Many firms offer this, even for part-time employees. Some downsides are that you may have to stay with the company a certain amount of years after graduation, or you may need to pay tuition upfront before you are reimbursed. That being said, getting tuition reimbursement through your work is a beneficial and efficient option.

Student Loans

A student loan is in the category of money you do need to pay back. Additionally, these loans come with interest, which means you are paying back more than you initially borrowed. You may want to consider a loan with terms that allow you to pay the interest while you are in school. When shopping around, keep in mind that interest rates can vary as well as the terms. How much you can borrow for a student loan depends on factors such as the type of loan, your status as a student, and how much financial aid you are already receiving. Try to view loans as a supplemental form of tuition payment and borrow as little as possible.

Scholarships

A scholarship is in the category of money that you do not need to pay back. Scholarships come in varying amounts, and the guidelines for who can apply can vary greatly. Some scholarships are attached to the school you are attending, and other scholarships allow you to use the money toward any school of your choice. When searching for scholarships, beware of scams and only use government websites and sources approved by your current or prospective school. You might be surprised to find out about the many different types of scholarships that are available.

All of these school tuition payment options can be used in conjunction with one another—and they often are. Figuring out how to pay for school can seem like a job within itself. Try to borrow as little money as possible, but, in the end, do not let money get in the way of pursuing your education.

3 Ways Football Players Can Reduce Their Risk of Head Injuries

Playing football as a teen can be a great experience. It helps you stay physically active; you make friends and you learn all about hard work. Unfortunately, football is a sport that requires you to be very physical with players on the opposite team. Because of this, there are many injuries that can occur during practice or a game. Head injuries are particularly common in football, and these injuries can cause permanent damage if you aren’t careful. Fortunately there are a number of ways that football players can reduce their risk of head injuries.

Practice Protecting Your Head

It’s important to learn how to play football the right way. An experienced coach will be able to teach a player the proper way to tackle, block and play the game. Rugby style tackling utilizes shoulder drives into the opposite player to take them down. This is much safer than using your head.

Use a Quality Helmet

When you’re purchasing equipment for football, the prices can really start to add up. But one item that you should never skimp on is your helmet. This is an important piece of equipment that will help keep your head safe if you are knocked on the head while playing, lessen the chance of brain injury. The helmet that you choose should be properly padded. It also needs to fit perfectly. Don’t buy a helmet that is a little bit big in hopes of growing into it. It should be snug, but not too tight. A recent study resulted in the ban of 10 different helmet models by the NFL, which proved insufficient at providing adequate head protection.

Seek Medical Attention

If you do get hit on the head during a game or incur some sort of injury to the neck or head, make sure that you alert your coach. You should get checked out to make sure that you don’t require any kind of further medical attention. If you leave a concussion untreated, this could lead to long term health problems. Your brain isn’t something that you want to mess around with.

Any kind of brain injury or head injury is a serious issue. Make sure that you take appropriate precautions to stay safe whether you are at practice with your own teammates or you are playing another team in a game. Always have your proper equipment with you. Show good sportsmanship. This will be an example to other players that will encourage everyone to play a safe and proper way.

3 Tips for Safe Summer Driving

Summer is finally here, and summer fun has just begun! Driving around and enjoying the warm summer breeze with your friends and family makes for some great times, but it can turn into a tragic nightmare in seconds if safe driving is not implemented and practiced. To make this summer enjoyable and unforgettable, here are three tips for safe summer driving.

Make Sure the Vehicle is in Good Condition

The summer heat can cause many problems in your vehicle. According to Did You Know Cars, some of these summer vehicle problems include things like tire bursts, engine overheating, and worn shock absorbers (these keep your car driving smoothly over bumps and dips in the road). Before going out for a summer drive, consider checking your vehicle’s tires, air conditioning, brakes, engine, oil and shock absorbers to make sure it is working properly. You can also go to your family’s trusted car mechanic to make a basic vehicle check-up before hitting the road.

Choose Your Passengers Carefully

Passengers, although fun to have along for the ride, can also be a distraction for a driver. According to Dolman Law, one additional teen passenger increases the risk of a fatal crash by 44 percent, while three additional teen passengers can increase it by as much as 300 percent. Choose passengers that know the risks of obnoxious passengers and who understand that you, the driver, are in charge during the whole trip. If a passenger becomes reckless and distracting, stop at the nearest location, calmly get their attention, and explain your discomfort as well the dangers of the distraction that they are causing.

Use Seatbelts

Seatbelts are installed in every car for a reason: to keep people inside cars safe. In the case that an accident occurs, a seatbelt is there to prevent most small injuries and some severe injuries. In order to Virtual Drive, to wear a seatbelt properly, the strap should be across your chest (not behind your backpack or under your arm), and the lap belt should be placed above your hips and under your belly. Make sure that you and any passengers always wear a seatbelt when riding in a car, even for short trips, and always check to see if they are wearing theirs correctly.

It is essential for both drivers and passengers to be informed of how to reduce their chances of getting into a car accident. Being in an accident is something that no one wants to have happen when on their summer vacation. So this summer, make sure that you enjoy endless fun and adventure with your friends and family by practicing safe summer driving.

What Teens Should Look for in a Starter Car

Buying your first car is an exciting milestone for any teenager. While it is tempting to gravitate toward cars that are flashy and fun, it is more important to put the image of your vehicle aside and focus on other factors. When looking for your first vehicle, you will want to consider that you are an inexperienced driver. Here are three things that teens should look for in a starter car.

Don’t buy starter car that looks like this haha.

The Cost

This is not the time in life to go after your dream car. Your budget should be the primary consideration when shopping for a vehicle. Before heading out to test drive cars, make sure that you have a firm budget in mind so that you are not tempted to spend more than you have. When figuring out your budget, be sure to look beyond the initial purchase of the vehicle. You also need to consider annual registration, maintenance costs, gas mileage, and average repair costs. Lastly, you need to factor in insurance premiums. Vehicles that are more expensive are also going to cost significantly more to insure, adding to the total cost of ownership.

Safety

Taking your hard-earned money and purchasing a lemon of a vehicle would be a huge disappointment. There are more than a few things to consider when it comes to evaluating how safe the model is. In addition to the age of the vehicle, you need to look for signs of damage that would indicate that it has been involved in a serious collision. There are two major vehicle safety rating services that can help you to ascertain how safe your options are compared to each other.

Practicality

As a teenager, you need a practical vehicle that will get you from point A to point B. What you do not need is a sports car, large family SUV, or any other kind of vehicle that does not suit your current lifestyle. While you do not necessarily want the smallest car on the roads, you also do not need the biggest. A safe commuter car or a small SUV is your best bet when looking for a vehicle to fit your needs as a teenager.

By doing your research and choosing carefully, you can ensure that you select the best vehicle to meet your personal preferences and needs. Purchasing the right vehicle will help you to enjoy this special season in life.
If you enjoyed this article, check out this other article on how to deal with insurance if you get into a car accident!

3 Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Car Accident

As a teen driver, you might have discovered that your insurance rates are higher than your parents’. The primary reason for that has to do with experience. In the view of insurance companies, you haven’t driven long enough and therefore are more likely to be involved in an accident. Using that fact as a basis for setting premium prices isn’t a guarantee that the insurance company will be forthcoming with a benefits claim. They will be doing all they can to avoid paying out on that claim. That is why you need to be prepared to deal with insurance companies after a car accident in a way that is beneficial for your cause. Here are three tips to help you know how to deal with insurance companies if you get into a car accident.

Do Not Post on Social Media

After you file an insurance claim, you need to go on a self-imposed social media blackout. Next to recovering from actual injuries, this might be the hardest thing you have to do. The reason is that the insurance companies can use any of your postings as evidence against you. If you post vacation pictures or even a selfie from your favorite eatery, then you could be telling the insurance companies that you’re doing fine. That means your claims of suffering from an injury aren’t all that you’ve made them out to be.

Be Very Careful About What You Say

At some point, you will have to provide your version of the accident. This is information that the insurance adjuster will need to process the claim. It’s important to not say things that can be left to an insurance adjuster’s interpretation. For instance, you should never admit to guilt even if you think you were partially responsible for the accident. The best response to questions is “yes” or “no” without adding anything. Don’t assume the insurance adjuster is on your side even if they are your carrier. They all want to make a profit for the company and that can only happen if they deny claims.

Don’t Accept the First Offer

At some point in the claims process, the insurance company might make you a settlement offer. You shouldn’t automatically accept that first offer until you’ve thought things through. That offer might cover your immediate medical bills, but what about future bills? Will you need ongoing physical therapy? There is also the issue of lost wages to consider. How much more time might you miss from work because of the accident injury? Keep in mind, that an insurance company’s first offer is typically the lowest amount that they are willing to pay, but it might not be the only amount that they can offer.

All of these issues about dealing with an insurance company can be handled by working with an experienced attorney. They can be the person to answer questions and negotiate on your behalf. When dealing with an insurance company is it sometimes better to let an attorney do all the talking. By following these tips, you will be better prepared to deal with insurance companies when the occasion arises.

4 Education Tracks You Can Pursue to Enter the Medical Field

As the old saying goes: There is more than one way to skin a cat. Of course, you won’t actually need to skin any cats in the medical field, but the old wisdom still applies. As you consider your future after high school, you need to be aware that there is more than one road that leads to your destination. In this article, we will take a brief look at four of those paths that lead to careers in the medical field.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

For those who want to go into nursing, this is almost a requirement. You can choose to get an associate degree in nursing, but students with a BSN are usually going to be preferred. Johns-Hopkins and Duke University are known for their excellent BSN programs, but there are many potential options. The only downside is that you can expect to spend four years in school and this education will not be cheap. Your student loan debt will be significantly greater with a BSN, so you’ll need to get a job lined up as soon as possible after graduation. The most important qualities for a BSN student are critical thinking, professional conduct, and communication skills.

Associate Degree in Medical Assisting

An associate degree in medical assisting prepares students for careers in places such as hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, and medical offices. As you might guess from the name, this degree will prepare you to be an assistant to some other medical professional. This might sound kind of lame but bare in mind that you can always obtain additional certification at a later date. This degree gives you an excellent way to earn a living in the meantime. This degree takes only 1-2 years to obtain, so it’s a good option for those who are in a hurry to get out in the field and gain experience. You can get these kinds of degrees online with relative ease, but it’s probably not a good idea. In terms of education costs versus earning potential, this is a very good choice.

Healthcare IT Professional

If you want to get into the medical field, but don’t want to deal with blood, pus, and other such unpleasant things, you might consider a career in healthcare information technology. Hospitals are required by both law and common practice to keep records of virtually everything. This practice is unlikely to change anytime soon, which means that there will always be a significant demand for this kind of work. Educational requirements for this field are much less stringent than other medical professions. An associate degree in any IT-related field (medical or otherwise) should be sufficient. However, those who are considering this career should take at least a few medical courses to make themselves a more appealing hire.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Becoming an EMT is a much more hardcore option than the others, but it has several advantages. First of all, EMTs don’t have to worry about long-term care, making the job a little easier. As an EMT, your job would focus on rapid and efficient stabilization treatment. However, you also have to be able to handle the trauma and stress that naturally come with an emergency. Not everyone can handle this kind of thing, which creates more opportunities for those who can. You will only need about two years of school, and the pay is moderately good.

The above is only a small sampling of the many jobs that make up the medical field. Before setting your mind on any one profession, it pays to do your research and make sure that you have chosen the place where you will do your best work. We hope that this article has inspired you to do exactly that, and we wish you success in whatever career you choose.

If you’re graduating high school in the next year or so and are continuing your education, you’ll want to develop some good habits now before you start. Check out this article with some great habits you can start now to prepare!

4 Tips to Help You Keep Your Jewelry for a Lifetime

Receiving jewelry can be a great gift, whether it’s for a birthday, graduation, or some other occasion. Rings, necklaces, and other items should be cared for to ensure that they last a lifetime. Knowing about your jewelry item will empower you to make the right decisions to keep it clean and in good shape to last a lifetime or more.

Know Where to Store It

You need to know where and how to store your jewelry properly. Jewelry boxes can be a great starting point as long as you have enough room. If there are too many chains, they can become knotted very easily. Higher-end jewelry should be stored in a safe so that it’s kept safe from the possibility of theft. Then, when you want to wear it, you can remove it from the safe for a particular occasion.

When to Wear It

Jewelry should be worn based on the occasion, not all the time. It might be necessary to remove jewelry based on what activity you’re involved in. If you’re going swimming, no jewelry should be worn because it can slip from your fingers or tarnish due to the chlorine. If you’re working with heavy machinery or near moving parts, rings should be removed so that they don’t get crushed, potentially causing damage to your finger at the same time. Necklaces tend to get caught in moving parts, too, especially if they’re longer.

How to Clean It

You should be cleaning your jewelry on a regular basis so that sediment doesn’t get in and around the stones. Silver can tarnish, too, leaving dark marks on the jewelry that make it less attractive. Not all jewelry can be cleaned the same way, especially if you have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. You have to look at what is and isn’t advised to go into the machine.

How to Protect It

Some jewelry can be extremely valuable, so it’s a good idea to find out how you can effectively protect it. Rings and other jewelry should be taken to jewelers periodically to be inspected. If there’s a loose diamond, for example, it can be addressed before you lose the stone.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to look at having your valuable jewelry covered under an insurance policy. If you’re still living at home, find out if your parents can add your pieces to their homeowners policy. If you’re on your own, look into your own policies. There may be a warranty that comes with new jewelry, too, allowing you to register it on the company’s website.

By learning more about the jewelry that you have, you can be sure to take care of it properly. It will allow you to keep your jewelry looking great for many years to come.

Jewelry isn’t the only valuable thing to protect — your car needs protection, too. Click here for tips on how to protect your car, yourself, and others following an accident.