Listen to Todd Avery on the Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined Podcast
- Todd Avery
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Parents are expected to supervise dozens of hours of teen practice driving, yet few have been taught how to turn those rides into safe, productive learning opportunities.
In this episode of Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined, Todd joins host Cheryl Pankhurst to talk about how parents can help teen drivers build confidence, awareness, and lifelong safe driving habits.
With decades of experience coaching new drivers, Todd shares practical guidance for making practice drives more productive, including why parents should ask questions instead of giving constant commands, how to prepare teens for situations before they happen, and why learning to drive cannot be rushed.
They discuss:
Why situational awareness, not just vehicle control, is one of the biggest safety gaps for new drivers
How parents can use questions such as “What do you see?” and “What else?” to help teens scan farther ahead and process more information
Why proactive coaching is more effective than reacting with “Slow down!” or “Watch out!”
How to recognize when a teen may not yet be ready to begin driving or move to more challenging situations
How anxiety, ADHD, neurodivergence, and perfectionism can affect the learning process
Why short, manageable practice sessions are often better than pushing a teen too far too quickly
What parents should look for when choosing a driving school
How parents can begin building driving awareness before their teen even gets a permit
Why backup cameras, blind-spot monitors, GPS, and other technology should support but not replace active observation and judgment
The question parents should ask before deciding whether their teen is truly ready to drive independently
Listen to the episode for practical, reassuring advice that can help your family approach the teen driving years with more patience, clarity, and confidence.
