Getting Off To A Smooth Start: Helping Your Kids Learn To Drive
When your kids have reached the age where they can legally learn to drive, it can be a time of mingled excitement and dread for all of you – particularly if they are keen to put in plenty of extra hours of practice in your car.
While you may be eager to help them master their motoring skills, it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive at the same time. These helpful tips may serve as a guide to teaching your children how to drive while hopefully avoiding any potholes – or pitfalls.
Have Faith And Patience
Accompanying your child on a drive around your neighbourhood can be a nerve-wracking experience, and you may feel your blood pressure begin to rise alarmingly at certain moments. However, it’s important that you remain outwardly calm and composed and treat your young driver with patience and encouragement to prevent them from losing confidence. If you believe in them, they will find it easier to believe in themselves.
Getting Insured
While you will already have an insurance policy on your car, it’s important that you also take out additional learner insurance, so you and your child will be road-legal while he or she is learning with you. This is a vital step and needs to be arranged before you and your offspring take your first spin. Once they have passed their test, they can then arrange to have a young driver temporary insurance policy, which can come in handy on a number of occasions; for example, if your child heads off to university and doesn’t need to do much driving.
Choosing The Right Time Of Day
When you and your young driver head off for a lesson, it’s a good idea to make sure you are setting out at a time of day when the amount of other traffic is likely to be on the low side. Driving at rush hour should definitely be avoided, as that kind of congestion could prove too difficult and potentially even off-putting for your young driver. You should also make sure you go driving with your learner in broad daylight, rather than in darkness or in severe weather, to ensure they have good visibility.
Be A Good Example
While you are teaching your child how to drive, don’t let it be a case of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Always strive to set a positive example to your child as a driver, obeying the rules of the road and resisting the urge to indulge in any road rage or other examples of bad driving. By serving as a positive motoring role model, you will be teaching by example and showing them the right way to do things rather than imparting bad habits.
Focus On Praising, Not Patronising
Learning to drive with someone you love can be more challenging than learning to drive with an impartial instructor. In order to try and avoid any tense moments and to build your learner’s confidence, do your best to steer clear of patronising or criticising them harshly if they make a mistake. Instead, concentrate on praising the things they did right and gently but firmly explain where they could improve. This way, you will avoid upsetting them, and you will set them on the right path toward becoming a careful, confident, and capable driver.
