“Slow down!”
“Do you want to get us killed?”
“You’re going way too fast!”
“You didn’t come to a complete stop!”
Chances are, if you have a teen who is learning to drive, you’ve said a few of these things yourself. Learning how to drive is an exciting time for both teens and parents. However, it can also be nerve-wracking, especially in the beginning as your child is just getting the hang of operating a vehicle.
However, you as the parent are not the only one who is nervous—it can be tense for the teen who is learning how to drive as well. This is especially true if you make frenzied comments like the ones above when you are in the car with your teen as he or she learns how to drive.
While you are concerned with your teen’s safety, the best way to go about helping them drive more safely is through constructive criticism. This means offering helpful advice to point out and then help them to fix the things that they are having trouble with, whether it’s speeding, shifting, or changing lanes properly.
Why constructive criticism?
Because the atmosphere in the car can be tense when your teen is learning how to drive, it is important that you offer constructive criticism. This will help your teen see how to improve his or her safety while driving in a manner that is helpful instead of causing resentment.
How to give constructive criticism
The following are some ways you can offer your teen constructive criticism to help him or her learn how to drive more safely:
Be calm. Try not to yell or raise your voice or sound panicked in any way. This will only make the situation worse. Also, make sure your teen is not in over his head. For example, don’t tell him to drive on a busy street if he’s never even started a car before. Start out slow, such as in a parking lot, and then move up gradually to more difficult things and higher speeds as he or she gains confidence and experience.
Point out what they are doing well. You can help your teen drive safely as well as help him or her relax by pointing out and praising what they are doing well while you are in the car with them. This is especially true if you tell them how to do something and they do so in a safe manner; for example, if you tell your child to change lanes, tell him good job for checking all the mirrors before proceeding.
Don’t belittle or be negative. Avoid saying things like, “You’ll never learn how to drive if you keep stalling,” or “You’ll get in a wreck and die before you can even get your license if you keep driving like that.” These things will make it harder for your teen to concentrate and drive safely.
Point out what they are doing wrong in a constructive manner. This means also telling them how to fix it, such as, “Let out the clutch more slowly next time,” or “This is a 35-mph zone and you’re still accelerating.” Be sure to praise your teen when he or she corrects the problem.
These are just a few ways you can use constructive criticism to help your teen drive safer.
