Your daughter is sixteen and eager to get her permit. She has been bugging you since her birthday to take her to the DMV. You first think to yourself, "Where did the time go?" Then you're suddenly filled with anxiety when you remember how you learned to drive.

She's your first child, so you have never taught a teenager how to drive before. You ask around, but all of your friends are either in the same boat, or they laugh to themselves and wish you the best of luck. You don't even know where to begin, and so far it seems like a nightmare.

Teaching your teenager to drive can be much less painful. Here are some tips that successful parents have used:

1.) Be supportive - While this is your first time giving driving lessons, remember that it is also your child's first time in the driver's seat. She's most likely just as scared as you are, and she relies on you for support. Show it by helping her with the study aid so she can do well on the test to get her permit. Then, make the phone call for her to set up her appointment to take his exam, and offer to begin as soon as possible.

2.) Take baby steps - Begin with the basics. Do not venture onto a busy street just yet. Poor experiences in the beginning cause teens to be less comfortable later. It may be better to begin with automobile personalization, such as mirrors, temperature controls, and radio. Also explain what the dash board monitors mean. Once she understands where the turn signals are and how to operate the wipers, it is safe to begin backing down the driveway.

3.) Do not show anger - If your teenager does something incorrectly, there is no need to get angry. This will simply make her uncomfortable and either influence her to recruit another teacher or become too self-conscious. Angst often causes hesitation, which may lead to unnecessary mistakes.

4.) Allow your teenager to drive as much as possible - Insist that your teen drive anytime you run errands. This way, she will have more experience and become more confident. It will also get your teen out of the house and allows you to spend quality time with her. Begin with closer trips, such as the local supermarket, or the bank. Avoid expressway driving until your teen becomes confident in her skills as a new driver.

5.) Show the technique first - For more complicated parking and driving methods, it is sometimes best to show the technique and then teach it. For example, the K-turn is difficult for some novice drivers. If you show her the turn and break it down for her, she may learn it easier, depending on her learning style.

6.) Teach one complex method per day - K-turns and parallel parking should be taught in separate lessons, because they can become extremely frustrating for an inexperienced driver. Frustration has no business behind the wheel of a car, especially in the sue-happy world we live in today.

7.) Do a practice road test - When your teen gains enough experience and confidence in her driving, take her somewhere to practice what she would need to know for the road test. Of course, it is not proper to take her to the exact site of the exam, but there are plenty of places in every city where you can practice all that is required to pass the test. Critique each item and work on correcting any issues that would affect her ability to drive safely and pass the exam.

8.) Set rules regarding car use for after the road test - When your teen takes the road test, it is okay to set rules regarding use of the car. It is best that your teen not immediately go pick up her friends and cruise the town. Many accidents have occurred directly following road tests, because a teen boasted the new license. Set limits, such as no more than one other person in the family car while the inexperienced driver is behind the wheel, and no driving more than 30 minutes away from home.