So your teen is finally at that stage; ready to learn to drive and gain their freedom. You've probably already done the right thing and have or are about to book them into some professional driving lessons to grow their skills and confidence. You are probably also wondering, how can I best help them practice. Or how can I make this an enjoyable process for both myself and my teen? Read on to gain some tips from our top instructors.
Tip One: Keep Calm
We know, easier said than done, right? Learning new things, and learning from your parents can be challenging for anyone. Helping guide your teens through this process might feel like even more of a mission than being the learner. It is very achievable though, and achievable for everyone!
· Check in with yourself, and your teen about how you're both feeling. Be honest about it too!
· Take deep breaths before beginning the practice session.
· Ensure they feel safe in the environment by getting them to walk you both through their safety checks before starting the car.
· Revise road rules. This one isn't for everyone, but revising and remembering road rules before driving can help keep your mind at ease.
· Don't forget about body language. Your body language will say a lot to your teen about how you are feeling. Avoid sitting rigid, clutching door handles or the sides of your seat!
Tip Two: Set Expectations Beforehand
Make sure to discuss and clarify clear expectations whilst they're in the driving seat. Some ideas of what these might include could be:
· Setting guidelines about listening and following directions.
· Setting safety expectations like both of your phones are on silent or turned off.
· Ensuring that your teen feels comfortable telling you when they are unsure or feeling overwhelmed.
· Make sure your teen knows that it's okay for directions to need to be repeated, and explained in more detail.
Tip Three: Start Slow
Even if your teen has had their first driving lesson or two, ensure you still start slow! Learning to drive is definitely not a race.
· Start the practice sessions in a car park or quiet street to allow your teen to refamiliarise with controlling the car at the start of your journey.
· Focus on the basics first. Don't start practicing any more complicated maneuvers until they have the basics down pat.
· Remember, it's okay if they forget. Repetition is important in order to store skills in our long-term memory, this might take a little while.
Tip Four: Think about how to best approach instructions
The way you deliver your instructions is going to have a huge impact on how your teen receives and engages with your practice sessions.
· Be mindful that you are giving clear directions with adequate notice for them to be able to process and act on the direction calmly and cautiously.
· Include the 'why' so your teen understands the purpose of your instruction. For example 'Please start to slow down as we are approaching a red light.'
· Try correcting by asking questions. Rather than saying 'You're going too fast, you're going to get a ticket!' try asking 'What's the speed limit here? Questions will help prompt your teen to be aware of their surroundings.
Tip Five: Ask your teen for feedback after their professional lessons
Pairing professional driving lessons with regular in-between practice is a sure way to build both confidence and skill development in early drivers. You probably won't be there when they take their lessons, so ensure you have a plan to make the most of their lesson feedback.
· Encourage your teen to ask for their instructor to write their feedback down. Their logbook or simply on their phone are great places for this.
· Talk to your teen after their lesson as soon as possible to find out what they learned, what they need to practice, and how confident they are feeling with their abilities.
Tip Six: Plan Ahead
Get the most out of your driving practice with your teen, and keep everyone calm and safe by thinking about and planning ahead where you will go.
· Discuss this planned route with your teen, so you both know what to expect.
· When they become a more experienced driver, mix up the routes to give them a better representation of real-life issues.
