As a parent you have to know how to set ground rules with your kids. Eventually, you would like to be able to trust your kids enough to take a dream vacation to Boston–see all the tourist sites without having to pack the kids with you. You have to be able to set a rule and not break from that rule and once a kid makes a mistake, and they will because all kids do, then you have to be fully prepared to discipline your child for breaking that rule. The problem is that at every stage of your child’s life they are scheming to break the rules and there is nothing you can do about it. They will make mistakes at every turn.

The one time in your kid’s life where this becomes the most problematic is when your kid gets old enough to drive a car. It’s a nerve wracking time for you while it’s the most exciting time in your child’s life. So how do you protect them when they have more freedom than they have ever had to hurt themselves? How do you keep them safe and your auto insurance from going right through the roof?

You must establish ground rules on where and when it is acceptable to take the car. Perhaps you only allow them to take it after school for an hour and on week nights. Perhaps you have outlawed weekends. This isn’t a bad idea since weekends are the time when kids get into the most trouble.

Another thing is making sure that there is a strict curfew set up so the child doesn’t stay out all night. It must be extra enforced when you are talking about your kid driving a car that could seriously hurt themselves or someone else. Also, making sure they earn all their own gas and insurance money is setting them on the right path for responsibility. Helping your kids manage their new responsibility isn’t easy but it can be done if you are stern but fair.