When your teen starts driving, one of your tasks as their parent is to practice the skills they learned in their driver’s education courses. There are a few ways to make your sessions with your teen stress-free for both sides and keep everyone safe on the road. Here are three tips for parents who are helping their teen learn the basics of driving.

3 Parent Tips for Practicing With Teen Drivers

1. Turn Off Devices

Eliminate as many distractions as you can, with cell phones being first. Avoid putting your devices on silent; even the buzzing of messages will pull your attention. Instead, turn off your cell phone as well as your child’s so that both of you can focus on the road. This will make it easier to respond quickly to the many factors you will encounter as you drive. It also helps you as their driving mentor to anticipate variables and hazards, and guide them through everything safely.

2. Plan the Route

Having a solid route planned will make it easier for you to instruct your teen on where to go. Since your teen is new to the road and probably nervous, last-minute directions will also cause more frustration, especially if you don’t give them enough notice to stop, turn, or look for parking. A pre-planned route also eliminates confusion and unclear navigation instructions from you.

3. Pull Over to Talk About Mistakes

When your teenager makes a mistake behind the wheel, tell them to pull over into a safe parking space and calmly discuss what happened. Don’t wait until the session is done because it is better to go over techniques when the error is fresh. Avoid scolding or showing your tension, as this will not help them learn from their mistakes and will only make them feel more nervous.

Based in Rochester, NY, for more than 30 years, Eaton Driving School provides teen driving lessons as well as adult driving courses to prepare for the road test. Each student in their care receives personalized lessons from a professional driving instructor to ensure they learn the rules of driving and road safety at their own pace. Visit them online or on Facebook for more information on the school and their techniques, or call them directly at (585) 227-4800.