Teach Your Kids About Car Repair

Lots of people remember spending time in the driveway with their parents, working on the family car. For many of you dads & moms out there, the opportunity to teach your kids about car repair is a rite of passage. Plus, it builds some great memories.

Here’s a look at a few things you can teach your kids about car repairs that will give them a sense of responsibility and pride.

Young Ones

Even at a very young age, children can begin to help take care of the family car — just remember to keep it light. A car wash is a great time to get them started. Take a trip to the car wash and show them how to vacuum the mats. Back home, let them spray the car down with the hose — also a fun way to keep cool on a hot summer day.

At this young age, your goal is to teach them about taking care of a car. And you can even transfer the same lesson over to their bikes or other toys too.

Grade School

By the time your kids start elementary school their mechanical abilities will expand a bit. Start them off as your tool box assistant so they can learn the names of your tools. Show them what each tool does, how to clean them and how to put them away neatly for next time.

As your children get into higher elementary grades, begin to teach them how to replace an air filter and wiper blades. Checking the tire pressure is also a great place to let kids this age start exploring car repair safely.

Teen

Once your kids reach their teen years, their understanding of your family car and how it works will grow with them. Now is a great time to let them do light mechanical work, such as checking and changing oil, pumping gas (check your local laws), and rotating tires.

If they take an auto class in high school or express a strong interest you can teach your kids about car repair on a deeper level. Filter changes, replenishing fluids and some light bolt on parts like a muffler are all great places for a budding mechanic to cut his or her teeth.

Working on your vehicle together is a great space to get in some quality parent-child time. Being outside and doing something you both love while teaching your kids to care for and work on a car safely is what it’s all about.

Check out all the maintenance parts available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on teaching your kids about car repair, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.