Things You'll Need:
- Safe car
- Patience
- Understanding
- Great sense of humor
- Persistence
- A learners permit
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Step 1
Your son or daughter will need a learners permit in order to even practice driving. You will need to have a drivers handbook for your state of residence and be prepared to take the written test in most states to obtain a learners permit. Call your local Department of Licensing to find out fees and locations for your area.
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Step 2
After your teen has a learners permit they are going to want to drive. Call your insurance company and find out the procedure for adding your teen to your insurance policy.
In some cases, your teen may drive as long as you are in the car without being officially added onto your policy. It will depend on your insurance company as to this policy so always be sure to make the call and find out before your teen is practicing behind the wheel. -
Step 3
Go over the equipment with your teen prior to his or her getting behind the wheel.
Make sure they know exactly where the gas pedal is and the break as well as turn signals, emergency flashers, windshield wipers, emergency break and seat adjustments.
Don't forget to discuss road signs as well. They will need to understand what the various signs mean such as curve ahead or yield. -
Step 4
Start your teen out driving slowly and in residential neighborhoods rather than on a busy highway. As they become more comfortable with this you can gauge when they are ready to go out on the open highway.
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Step 5
Practice one concept at a time to keep learning easier. Example: practice right turns only on one day and left turns on the next.
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Step 6
Make your teen your chauffeur and give them plenty of practice. The more opportunity they have to practice the better driver they will be. Remember when you were learning how to drive? Give them the opportunity to learn and become comfortable as a driver and encourage safe driving practices while they are young.
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Step 7
Discuss your expectations about driving with them gently but firmly. During drives is often a good time to discuss this as they are a "captive" audience and will be more apt to listen.
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Step 8
Keep lessons short at first. 30 minutes at a time is plenty to start out with and is less stressful on you and your teen.
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Step 9
Enroll your teen in a drivers education course prior to allowing them to get their permanent license. This will reduce insurance rates and the extra experience your teen gets in this class will greatly benefit his or her driving skills.
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Step 10
Consider making a "Driving Contract" with your teen. You can use one of the examples are in the resources section of this article or modify it to create your own "Driving Contract".
Comments
lovesherboys said
on 4/5/2009 My oldest will be driving in a few years and I have to admit I am not looking forward to it, but for sure will be following this advice!