The worst mistake a parent can make is yelling at their teen during their first driving lesson. Not only does it traumatise the learner, it may turn them off driving forever. Why? It undermines their confidence.
Some teens are full of hormones and can be moody at the best of times. A ticking bomb waiting to go off at any second. Self-esteem and identity crises are common and learning to drive could be like learning to ride a bike all over again.
Your teen will be impatient, nervous and terrified. You’ll be the same – they might crash your new car! A clash is inevitable if you don’t stay calm.
It may help to remember that you didn’t yell at your kids when you were teaching them their ABCs. You were patient because they were little kids. They’re still your kids – albeit not so little – so you can’t teach them a new skill from scratch by yelling at them.
Yelling is counterproductive and the best way to handle your own nerves when your kids take the wheel for the first time is to take it slow. Ease into it and let your kids learn at their own pace. Check out our blog article what to expect in your first driving lesson for ideas about how to tackle that critical first drive.
Yelling is counterproductive and the best way to handle your own nerves when your kids take the wheel for the first time is to take it slow.
