Teaching your kid to drive is a beautiful and memorable experience for parents and kids alike. However, there are several safety measures you need to consider before letting them move around the block on their own. Follow these valuable tips, and you will ease teaching your kid to drive:

Teaching Your Kid to Drive, Useful Tips for Teaching Your Kid to Drive, Days of a Domestic Dad

Teaching Your Kid to Drive

Start in daylight and pleasant weather.

Start in a large, well-lit parking lot or a similarly safe location. If you start in a residential neighborhood, chances are there won’t be many pedestrians around to alert the kid to look both ways before pulling out of their spot. Plus, your kid might forget about oncoming traffic when there isn’t anything immediately visible in either direction, which is a recipe for disaster.

Many people will also say that you should teach in nice weather because it’s easier to see when there’s sunlight vs. darkness or if the kid is wearing sunglasses (which can block peripheral vision). However, good weather isn’t always guaranteed where I live. A mist could be considered “good” by many people’s standards, but if the visibility is low enough to blind your child, it isn’t safe for them to drive.

It might not be easy at first since not everyone lives in perfect weather year-round that would be suitable for teaching a kid how to drive. However, they must gain experience maneuvering their car both at night and in foggy conditions (if that’s what you’ve got where you live).

Prepare them for Practice tests

It is mandatory, by law, that young drivers get sufficient practice on the road before they are issued their drivers license. Make sure that you prepare your kid for the 2021 DMV practice permit test using several free test questions. These will not only help your child understand what to expect on the real exam, but will also help them gain some confidence for the actual driver’s test. Explain the importance of taking and passing these practice tests to them.

Be careful with directions.

Teaching a kid to drive is a task that can be both rewarding and nerve-racking. It helps to have an action plan, as well as a little bit of patience. Start by having them follow you in your car at a low speed. Slowly climb up to faster speeds, allowing them the time they need to get used to being in the car. 

Remember that rules are made to be broken. While every child is different, it’s good to remember that people learn at different speeds. Some may learn quickly, while others need more time.

Set a good example.

If you expect your child to pay attention when driving, then you need to do the same. Focusing on the road and staying alert will build good habits in your child’s mind. Make sure you follow all safety laws when driving. For example, when you are in the car with your teen driver, keep yourself buckled up at all times.

The best way to teach kids how to drive is by setting a good example. If they see you follow the rules and keep your eyes on the road, they are more likely to do the same thing. One way to teach children is by getting them their first car. In some states, it might be appropriate for a child as young as fifteen to drive.

This will show them you take driving seriously, teaching them to do the same thing. Make sure that everyone buckles up so there will be no distractions while you are behind the wheel.

Correct by asking questions.

Try not to yell at your kid when they make a mistake. Yelling will scare them, make them angry, or both. It could make it harder for them to learn how to drive because they won’t drive with you. You don’t want that.

Be patient with your child when teaching them how to drive. It will take time for your child to learn how to drive, and they will make a lot of mistakes. The best way for your child to learn how to drive is by asking questions about what you are doing. Some good questions they can ask are: what are you doing? Why are you turning that way? What happens if I go straight here? Why didn’t you go to the green light? What if that car is going fast?

If they make a mistake when driving, say something like: What do you think would happen if we swerved in front of that van? If they does not know what to do or can’t answer any of your questions, this is not the time to teach them. Wait until she is calm and ready to try again.

Remember, you are the coach.

When teaching your kid to drive, you should be the one who is responsible for providing encouragement and support. The first time they head out behind the wheel- even if you are in the passenger seat- it’s expected that their heart would race with anxiety or excitement or both! You know how it is because the learning process can sometimes feel similar to how you felt during that first driving lesson.

In this sense, you are an essential part of their driving education. Always remember that. Once your kid gets used to the idea of being behind the wheel and has gotten comfortable adjusting mirrors, switching gears, and using turn signals, you can gradually let them take the wheel for short periods.

The goal is to instill confidence in your kid about their driving skills and a sense of security behind the wheel. The more confident they feel, the better decisions they will make on the road and the more responsibly they will drive. Driving is a privilege and learning the rules and how to drive responsibly will help them protect that privilege and themselves and others.