Of all the skills that a teenager can learn, driving is arguably the most valuable. It quite literally puts them on the road to new opportunities in their future careers and leisure activities. However, it can be fairly dangerous too. As such, every parent should want to invest in teaching their teen to become confident and competent behind the wheel.
No matter what stage of the journey your teen is at, several key steps can be used to support them. Here are five resources that you can look to use.
Driving Games
The process of teaching kids to drive can start long before they are old enough to take lessons. Videogames and Traxxas Stampede radio control vehicles may just seem like toys. In reality, they are great learning aids that can help them gain spatial awareness and perceptions. Better still, they will be developing skills without even thinking about the fact it prepares them for future driving tasks.
On a side note, they’ll also develop some basic knowledge of cars and their parts too.
Theory Test Software
Understanding the theory of driving is as important as the practical aspects. However, many teens will struggle to engage with books. Not least because they already spend hours reading textbooks for school. Therefore, finding online software that teaches them about hazards and road signs can be highly beneficial. The interactive nature means that they will also remember more of the content.
Aside from getting a license, it helps them stay safer on the roads.
Parent Driving Lessons
As a parent, you’re always looking for ways to spend quality time with kids. The time spent in the car while you learn to drive is a guaranteed source of magical memories. Nobody knows your child better than you. So, you’ll be able to drum home the lessons that you think matter most. This could mean teaching them to concentrate at all times or to pay attention to their peripheral vision.
Professional instructors are still needed, but your early insights can be very useful indeed.
Maintenance Tools
Once your teen passes their exams, they will probably drive a used car. So, knowing how to complete basic maintenance is vital. A Dewalt socket set, for example, can have a telling influence on their future driving habits. Meanwhile, showing how to replace a tire or flush the transmission can work wonders. Simple maintenance can save your son or daughter a fortune. More importantly, it could potentially save their life.
It shows that you are preparing your teen for life as a driver. Not just a student.
Defensive Driving Courses
Even when your teen has gained their license, it doesn’t mean they are suddenly the perfect driver. Therefore, signing them up for an advanced driving course can be the ideal way to celebrate. It equips them with valuable skills to help avoid accidents and know how to act in emergency situations. As an added reward, this can often lead to reduced insurance premiums for your teen. They will certainly appreciate this outcome.
Parents can play a huge role before, during, and after their teen has gained a license.
