How to Instill Maintenance Habits Like Oil Change

To make sure that your children know and adhere to proper maintenance schedules for their vehicles, you need to make it a natural part of life. Start young by involving your kids in the process of vehicle maintenance. When you pull up to the pump, explain to even littlest ones what it is that you are doing. Explain why a car needs gas, point out the numbers on the pump, and announce the cost of the tank of gas upon reentering the car. It is unbelievable, but some pretty big kids do not realize that gas costs money, and you surely want your teenager or young adult to be familiar with the monetary responsibility that comes with owning a vehicle or even borrowing yours. My own parents made me return their care to them with the same amount of gas it had when I took it. I had to learn how to estimate how much of my spending money to allocate toward fuel before I spent the rest out on the town.

Other things are not so easy. Many parents added scheduled maintenance checks into Saturday morning or alone time errands, therefore robbing their children of learning opportunities. Drive through an oil change lane when your kids are in the car, and explain what you are doing. Again, announce the cost, but this time explain that these maintenances can be done at home for much less of an investment. For older kids who are into basic math at school, perhaps fourth or fifth graders, ask them to remember how much the oil change and lube was. When it is time for the next scheduled maintenance, do it yourself. Take your helper to the auto store with you to get what you need and change the oil in your own driveway. Let him decide the following: which cost less, was the convenience of the drive through service worth the cost, which method will he use when he owns a car?

Speaking of making lessons out of everyday tasks, why not suggest automotive projects when your student needs to write a research paper? A "how to" on oil change would be a great learning experience, perhaps even for the teacher. Science projects abound that can include cars—"what is viscosity" would be a great one. If you have a tween that is fascinated with numbers, show him or her the odometer and tell him to let you know when it is time for another oil change. The authentic learning possibilities are endless.

Lastly, when the day looms near that your teen will take off driving, create a rite of passage. You hand over the keys when she shows you how to check the oil, replenish the fluids, check the tire pressure, and fill the gas tank. You may get a lot of eye rolling, but it is eye-rolling-worthy situations that are the most effective parenting moments.