Parent Practice Planner

6-Week Parent Practice Planner

Helping Parents Teach Confident, Safe Drivers

Learning to drive is one of the most important (and emotional) milestones for a family.
This six-week plan gives parents a structured way to build confidence, skills, and safety — step by step — using BTW Tools for visual guidance and consistent practice.

Each week focuses on a specific set of skills and includes goals, key reminders, and optional tools to use.

WEEK 1: Getting Comfortable Behind the Wheel

Goal: Build comfort, control, and awareness.
Focus on vehicle basics before practicing on public roads.

Skills to Practice:

  • Adjusting mirrors, seats, steering wheel, and seat belt.

  • Understanding dashboard symbols.

  • Smooth starting, stopping, and parking in an empty lot.

  • Steering control: gentle turns, straight-line driving.

Parent Tips:

  • Keep sessions short (20–30 minutes).

  • Use calm, specific directions (“Ease to a stop at the cone,” not “Stop!”).

  • Avoid busy areas until the student feels relaxed.

BTW Tools to Use:
Intersections Tool, Cone and Pole Kit (Coming Soon)

WEEK 2: Parking Lot Practice & Basic Maneuvers

Goal: Develop low-speed control and spatial awareness.

Skills to Practice:

  • Backing up straight and around corners.

  • 3-point turns in open space.

  • Judging distances between objects.

  • Smooth acceleration and braking.

Parent Tips:

  • Encourage them to check mirrors and surroundings before every move.

  • Walk the setup with them using BTW Tools cones or markers — visual learning helps spatial judgment click faster.

  • End each session by having them self-evaluate what improved.

BTW Tools to Use:
Maneuverability kit for backing and turning accuracy. Parent Parking Lot Kit (Coming Soon)

WEEK 3: Neighborhood Driving & Real Intersections

Goal: Transition from closed course to real traffic.

Skills to Practice:

  • Identifying and obeying stop signs, yield signs, and signals.

  • Smooth right and left turns at intersections.

  • Checking blind spots and mirrors regularly.

  • Maintaining consistent speed and lane position.

Parent Tips:

  • Choose quiet neighborhoods with clear intersections.

  • Narrate what’s happening: “We’re slowing for a stop sign ahead — what should you do next?”

  • Praise what they do well before correcting mistakes.

BTW Tools to Use:
Intersection training model for pre-drive review of rules and right-of-way.

WEEK 4: Moderate Traffic & Parking Skills

Goal: Build confidence in busier conditions and introduce complex maneuvers.

Skills to Practice:

  • Merging into moderate traffic.

  • Lane changes with proper mirror and signal use.

  • Parking practice: angle, perpendicular, and parallel.

  • Anticipating actions of other drivers.

Parent Tips:

  • Keep tone calm — the student matches your emotional energy.

  • Reinforce mirror–signal–shoulder checks before every lane change.

  • Alternate between light traffic practice and quiet parking sessions.

BTW Tools to Use:
Parallel parking kit for realistic spacing and angle practice. Intersections tool to reinforce right of way. 

WEEK 5: Highway & Night Driving

Goal: Introduce higher-speed and varied-condition driving.

Skills to Practice:

  • Entering and exiting the highway safely.

  • Maintaining speed and following distance (3-second rule).

  • Identifying blind spots and merging with awareness.

  • Driving after sunset (use of headlights, night visibility).

Parent Tips:

  • Start on highways with long, clear merge lanes.

  • Discuss how headlights affect visibility and reaction time.

  • Limit night driving to familiar, well-lit routes at first.

BTW Tools to Use:
Use cones or reflective markers in a safe open area to simulate nighttime visibility.

WEEK 6: Test Preparation & Defensive Driving

Goal: Combine all skills and build readiness for real testing.

Skills to Practice:

  • Full test route simulation (maneuverability, parking, signals, etc.).

  • Defensive driving: scanning ahead, anticipating hazards.

  • Understanding road signs, markings, and right-of-way rules.

  • Emergency braking and evasive steering (in a safe area).

Parent Tips:

  • Review progress from each previous week.

  • Focus on calm confidence, not perfection.

  • If possible, have another adult simulate an examiner to help your teen feel test-ready.

BTW Tools to Use:
Maneuverability and parking kits — practice the same dimensions as state tests.

Final Reflections & Ongoing Practice

Driving skills don’t end after six weeks — they build through consistent, mindful practice.
Continue reinforcing habits like mirror checks, lane awareness, and patience.
BTW Tools can remain part of your family’s ongoing safety toolkit for years of confident driving.

Checklist Before Testing:
✅ Smooth, confident steering and braking
✅ Consistent scanning and mirror checks
✅ Comfortable with merging and lane changes
✅ Completed several sessions in mixed conditions
✅ Knows the rules of right-of-way and intersections

BTW Tools – Smart Tools for Smoother Lessons

BTW Tools were created to make driving instruction easier for parents, instructors, and schools.
They bring structure, visual clarity, and confidence to every lesson — helping new drivers succeed faster and safer.