Driving can be very exciting for people that have never done it before, but it can also be scary. When that driver is a child, that can make things a lot more overwhelming. It is not an easy process to teach anyone how to drive, but it is more tricky when you are teaching a teen. The following article should help make things a lot less stressful for both of you.
Practice with your teen on a regular basis. This is one of the most important parts of teaching everything. It is much easier for people to grasp new concepts when they are repeated to them over and over. If you tell your child something new and you don't say it again for weeks or months, it's not likely they will hold on to it. You should give your child a lesson at least once or twice a week.
Keep your attitude in check and be patient. You already know how to drive, so it is easy for you to tell how things should be done. Your teen is just learning, so they will make some mistakes. When they do, make sure that you do not lose your temper and you stay positive. If you get upset with your teen whenever they make an error, it will only make them more nervous, and they may drive worse as a result.
Start in an empty parking lot before getting on the road. This is a good idea because there is a lot of space, which means they will be less likely to hit anything. If you know of a huge parking lot that is empty after a certain time, go for it. Let your teen know that you will get out on the road one day, but this is the way things need to be done for now.
Once you have mastered all of the basics, you should move on and start driving on quiet roads. This is great because your teen will start to feel more comfortable with being behind the wheel. You do not want to be in a high traffic area since this will probably intimidate your teen. If you live in an area that is relatively busy, try going out early in the morning when people are less liekly to be on the road.
Add a few people to the mix. You want to do this to teach your child about the importance of not being distracted. There are many accidents each year caused by people that stopped paying attention for a minute or two. Let your child know that they must focus on the road regardless of what is going on inside the car. This is one lesson that should probably be taught in an open parking lot, so nobody is in danger.
When a teen comes to you about learning to drive, you do not have to be afraid. Teaching them is not as difficult as you probably imagine. As long as you are patient with them and you use the tips here, they should be driving like a pro in no time.