As the parent, there are things you need to remember for teaching your kids how to drive.
Your teens have been looking forward to driving since… forever. And when they finally reach the age where they can start practicing behind the wheel, some expect to perfect driving right away.
It doesn’t work that way.
Driving, like many other things your teens do, takes practice. One or two times behind the wheel isn’t enough. Driving takes patience, but it’s not just patience from your teens; you have to be patient, too.
When I first learned how to drive, of course I was eager, but I was also very nervous. With my mom in the passenger seat reminding me to be patient and take it slow, I drove around the parking lot that encircles my apartment complex, going at most 5 miles an hour.
If you’re looking for a place to practice with your teens, try an empty parking lot. This way your teens will learn to be comfortable being in the car without the pressure and distraction of other cars. Save taking to the road for later.
Here are 3 main things to keep in mind when helping your teens learn to drive…
- Provide warm-up time
- Keep it simple
- Turn mistakes into lessons
Your teens aren’t going to get the hang of driving on their frist try. Start slow, then progress from there.
Were you nervous the first time teaching your teen how to drive? What did you do to ease the nerves (your own and your teens’)?
Helping Teens Learn to Drive [KidsHealth]
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