Should You Teach Your Kid to Drive Before Driver's Ed?

You might be more than happy to turn the task of teaching your teen to drive over to the driver's education professionals. Who better than a person with dual controls to guide a nervous -- or overconfident -- teen through his first few trips down the road? Actually, if you want to help your teen succeed at driver's ed, offering him a few unofficial lessons before his first official driving session can give him a head start at mastering the rules of the road.

  1. Unwitting Lessons

    • Whether you like it or not, you've been teaching your teen to drive since the first time you bundled her into her car seat as an infant and drove her home from the hospital. Teens learn from your example more than you -- or they -- want to admit. If you blow through stop signs, speed routinely and talk on your cell phone while driving, you can expect your teen to do the same. If you've spent most of your teen's life modeling bad driving behavior, turn over a new leaf and start following the rules. When your teen questions you on your change of heart, tell the truth: you've been setting a bad example and you regret it.

    Reviewing the Basics

    • In some states, such as California, your teen must take an approved driver's ed course to get his license. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take steps to get him ready for driver's ed. Quiz him on the rules and regulations manual, so he'll at least pass the written part of the test easily. Put him behind the wheel -- in the driveway or in an empty and large parking lot -- and familiarize him with the working parts of your car, the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission recommends.

    Advantages of Hitting the Road

    • Many high school driver's ed lessons include several teens with one instructor, each teen getting a few minutes of actual driving time. When your teen gets her license, you might want her to have more road time than that, and you might also want to have observed her yourself so you know what kind of driver she really is. Taking your teen out -- in a parking lot, to start -- gives her more practice time and gives you a chance to watch. Emphasize the positive, build up her confidence if she's under-confident and rein her in a bit if she's over-confident. Keep the sessions short, 15 to 20 minutes to begin, says MetLife Insurance -- and stop when either of you reaches your frustration level.

    Disadvantages of Teaching Your Teen

    • Not all parents should teach their teen to drive. If your teen is really fearful about driving, he might be at his worst with you. A professional -- with dual car controls -- might be better at overcoming his fear. If you can't stay calm and positive while teaching your teen to drive, you're probably better off not trying, since you'll both end up in a state of agitation.

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