by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: January 03, 2011

When the time finally arrives to teach your teenager to drive a parent serving as educator should have a prepared game plan beforehand -  a sort of mental script designed to infuse volumes of knowledge in a short time frame. At best, teenagers actually retain less than half of the words directed at them from a parent so the reality of the situation dictates that instructions be kept short and on-topic. Regardless of personal parenting style and beliefs, when a teenager begins to learn to drive it is time to take off the kid gloves and drive home (no pun intended) the gravity of the responsibilities connected to operating a motor vehicle, and the consequences of failing to comply with normal safety practices and legal obligations.

One of the most commonly overlooked tips for teaching your teenager to drive is to remember your role in the process - you are not a friend, a peer or a cruising pal, you are a parent. This posture will immediately establish clearly defined roles between you and your teen, letting them know from your demeanor that the endeavor at hand is one of great importance not to be taken lightly. Avoid pointing out your own personal shortcuts to skirting the proper ways to drive and stick to the rigid basics of the task in acknowledged practices, teaching common safety and control tactics. Adopt a "do as I say" mentality from the start, letting your child know in no uncertain terms that driving a car is a privilege - one that you have the authority to block at any time should their approach to the activity become careless.

The three most important tips to teaching your teenager to drive are to be brief, be redundant and be demanding in your expectations. Every teenager possesses a certain lack of maturity that cannot be escaped and the only way to circumvent this common issue is to become repetitive until the necessary lessons are absorbed. This teaching aspect goes far beyond just the time you spend in the car with your teen, and every opportunity you have to spend time with your child should discretely be viewed as a chance to interject some pearl of wisdom on driving skills.

The bottom line to teaching teenagers to drive is that no one can control human behavior, especially when you are not present with your kids 24 hours a day. Hopefully, your teen will see the concern you present while teaching them to drive and understand the reasoning behind your inflexibility in demanding that they take their responsibility seriously.

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