It’s no secret that teaching your kid how to drive requires tons of patience. Of course sending your child off to a driving school would make matters a lot easier, especially on you, but the overall memories and quality time spent together will be priceless. Who doesn’t remember who taught them how to drive? For most of us, it was an unforgettable experience, whether it was positive or not.
Get yourself acquainted with our list of to-do’s and you will be able to ride shotgun with much more ease.
Keep your cool
It’s going to be extremely easy to lose your cool. This entire process will be a test of your patience in its truest form, so keeping your voice down and approaching each lesson with a calm attitude are musts and should be practiced as frequently as possible.
Make sure you’re in a calm state of mind
If you’re not in the right state of mind, there is no telling what mood the lesson will take you. It will help to remind yourself that you too once learned how to drive and probably tested the patience of a parent or an older sibling. Check your worries and negative thoughts at the passenger side door.
Brush up on the rules of the road
As your child’s driving guru, you should be up-to-date on the rules of the road, so hit the books and refresh your mind. Being able to properly inform your kid on safety and regulations will not only be important for the driving test, but for the written test as well.
Be exemplary
Practice what you’re preaching. Teaching your kid the right way to perform on the road shouldn’t be restricted to when they’re behind the wheel, rather you should be setting a good example. Think twice before you decide not to use your blinker when changing lanes on the expressway or expressing your road rage to someone that cuts you off.
Drive on roads you’re familiar with
Take your kid to a road or street that you frequent. Know the speed limit, the signage, and the traffic levels at specific times of the day. Having this knowledge is only beneficial to knowing what to expect and the level of preparedness your child will need to be.
Put them in real-life situations
You’re essentially putting your child through a driving bootcamp, so try to be as realistic with your lessons as possible. Once you think they are ready, have them turn the radio on and off. Bring their siblings or your spouse along for the ride and carry on a conversation. This will assist in them not feeling overwhelmed when the time does come for them to turn the radio on or go on a road trip with passengers.
Make them find their own way around
Make them find their way around town by providing them with minimal to no hints. Being a passenger is a different perspective than that of a driver, and it will therefore be crucial for them to gain a sense of direction. Their patience may run up with this pointer, but we promise that it will only benefit them as a driver.
Provide honest and positive feedback
The process of learning how to drive is not easy and not to be taken lightly. Be honest with your child and don’t sugarcoat things. Constructive criticism may not always be easy for them to accept, but it is extremely necessary. Follow your constructive criticism up with a positive remark and be sure to provide them with enough positive feedback.
Being a teacher isn’t for everyone, but teaching your kid to drive can be! Keep your patience, give honest and positive feedback and test your kid with real-life situations and they will surely be fit for their driving and written test!
