5 ways to get your children engaged with motoring

Children: small people that look like you, and talk like you, but never ever do as you say. Produce noise, sticky messes, and empty wallets. Symptoms last at least 18 years, often more.

We love children here at Xtrons, honest we do! If nothing else, they are good excuse for an in-car DVD Disney marathon, and a bit of a shameless sing-a-long to the Frozen soundtrack. Eventually, children turn into young adults and then they want their own cars so they can pretend to be Queen Elsa on their own, the boys included. Teaching your children to be responsible motorists can start a lot earlier than the 17 years mark that a provisional license dictates.

Engaging your children in motoring can be a lot of fun, and also helps to take the pain out of journeys. Here are some great ideas for involving your children in the act of getting you from A to B, and teaching them essential life skills along the way.

1. Safety First

Once your children have outgrown the baby seat phase and are capable of doing their own three-point belt then you should show them how to do it properly and let them do it themselves every time. It might take a little longer for them to do it, and you will have to check it once done to make sure it’s tight enough, but it’s showing them that their own safety is down to them and not someone else’s responsibility. Your average four-year old should be capable of doing this, and you’ll soon find they’re the ones reminding you to ‘clunk click, every trip’!

2. Learn to read.

Children love looking out for road signs for your destination. It helps to develop both their reading skills and their navigation skills. If by the age of 17, your son or daughter has at least some road sense and the ability to follow essential road signs, then you’re helping them on their way to being a better motorist. Explain to them what the different road signs mean, and why, for example, it’s beneficial to know why a certain stretch of road means you need to be more aware of pedestrians, cyclists, or local wildlife. Knowing the difference between different warning signs and an understanding of what that could mean for a motorist could help save their life in the future.

3. Appreciate your surroundings.

An appreciation of the outside world, even if it’s a bland motorway verge can help make your family’s journey a little less stressful. Motoring is about more than just reaching your destination and using the time to learn about new things is really beneficial. For younger children, you can find and download a road trip spotter’s sheet where your child can look for items and tick them off when they see them. It’s a simple game that really works and can make a very long, otherwise dull journey that little bit more exciting.

4. Basic car maintenance.

Children need to grow up knowing that while cars are a great deal of fun and a lot of convenience, they do need to look after them. Getting your children to help wash the car on a weekend, or give it a valet, or even help you to top up the water in the engine (safety permitting) can give them a good insight into what is involved. My young children have always liked going to the tyre shop because they can see all the tools and equipment, and we’re not there so long that they start playing up. They also now know that tyres are something that have to be looked after and changed regularly.

5. Use a sat-nav.

Even if the journey is a familiar one to you, using a sat-nav can be a lot of fun for children. One can teach them the difference between left and right, and warn of approaching junctions. It can show them the idea that getting into the correct lane early is a good idea, and often prompts discussions about the reasoning behind speed cameras *coughs*. It can also be programmed in a variety of silly voices, which is always entertaining. I tell my younger children that the Brian Blessed voice is actually Grampy Rabbit from Peppa Pig, and they love it. As in-car technology grows and will be something that’s more familiar to the younger generation than it was to us, then it’s a great lesson in how to use technology to make motoring easier and safer.

There you are – five ways to get children engaged in motoring. Do you have any more suggestions for involving your children in cars and car journeys?