The biggest moment in many parents’ lives is teaching their child how to drive. It’s a whole new level of independence, and you don’t want them to go unaware of important rules and techniques that will keep them safe. Thankfully, there are plenty of places you can take them so they can improve their skills before obtaining their license. Here are the five best places to teach your child how to drive.
Open Parking Lot
An open parking lot is one of the best places to teach your child how to drive for a few reasons. Parking is one of the most difficult aspects of driving. As such, your child will need plenty of practice so they can successfully get in between the lines. An empty parking lot is also great because they aren’t hard to find, and you can set up cones to practice additional driving techniques.
Crowded Parking Lot
After practicing in an open parking lot, your child should eventually learn how to deal with crowds. Take them to a parking lot during business hours when there are other people and cars to watch out for. This way, they can learn to park in between cars and start to understand how crucial it is to watch for pedestrians.
The Highway
The next step for your young driver is to take the highway. This is a completely different experience and one that you need to guide them through. There is a lot that they’ll need to learn about the highway, such as driving at high speeds, understanding exits, and knowing which lane to travel in.
An Urban Area
There are a few differences between driving in the city and the country. Depending on where you live, you’ll want to take your child to an area that is opposite of what’s around you. For example, if you live in an urban setting, drive to the nearest rural territory for practice. Your child must learn how to deal with the different obstacles each area presents—from pedestrians to animals crossing the street. Mastering each setting will make your child a well-rounded driver.
Side Streets
A final practice exercise you should perform with your child is how to navigate a side street. This goes hand in hand with driving in an urban area or a busy neighborhood. You can also find hills on side streets, which is excellent for learning how to properly parallel park.
