You've probably taught your child to do just about everything. From walking to tying their shoelaces, they rely on parents to take the lead and show them how it's done. And done properly.
To ease the inevitable stress that is going to be the Year of L-Plate Learning, here are some simple tips and tricks.
Opt for a paid lesson first.
If this is your first time teaching a teen to drive you might be just as nervous as them, although probably not as excited as they are.
It might be a good idea for someone else to teach them the basics before you try.
Depending on the relationship you two have, one or both of you might not feel comfortable being in such a stressful situation.
To combat this, pay for a professional driving instructor for their first drive.
Once they have the completed a lesson or two and have a little bit more confidence, then you can step in and take over.
Refresh your knowledge.
Now, you might think that you are the most knowledgeable driver out there, which is great.
However, in order to teach someone to pass a test and also be competent and confident in their driving skills, you also need to know the answer to any question they might ask.
While they are off on their first lesson with a professional instructor why don't you brush up on your own knowledge of road rules, the worst outcome is that you come away having learnt something.
Manual or automatic.
While most teenagers will just drive whatever the family car is to begin with, if for some reason that isn't possible you are going to have a bit of a problem.
Some learners will know from the get go that they want to learn in a manual while others will opt for an automatic.
Keep in mind that if they hold a manual licence they are able to drive automatic as well which might be useful in the future.
Don't rush but be consistent.
Of course your teen is going to be buzzing to jump in the drivers' seat and learn but the most important thing to remember when teaching (and learning) is that consistency is key.
If you have a bad lesson and they start to feel discouraged, reassure them that this is all part of the learning process and that there is no need to rush.
Organizing to have a lesson once or twice a week will be just enough to keep them on track with their hours but also isn't overwhelming for you or them.
Theory is important.
It's all well and good to be nailing reverse parallel parks but the theory is just as important.
Ensuring your soon to be P plater knows all the road rules will not only give you peace of mind but also teach them valuable rules they'll need when you're not in the passenger seat.
Don't make it a test or seem like a daunting task they need to complete, if you want your child to know all the road rules write them down on Post-It notes and pop them in places you know they will see them.
Over time it will become second nature to them.
Pick the right roads.
You know your child better than anyone else so you know what their limits are. It's fine to challenge them but only when they're ready.
Start off with roads that don't have a lot of traffic, plenty of side streets to pull-in to if necessary and a reasonable speed limit for their ability.
It's vital to change it up though, taking a learner driver to the same area for each lesson will do nothing to prepare them for what driving is really like.
Switch it up but keep it within their skill level.
