Spent the morning hauling wood for my dad. Figured it was a good opportunity to show my 8 year old a few things about driving in reverse. He's pretty reliable driving forward. Couldn't get the hang of using the mirrors just yet. I think he did pretty good. Grandpa was proud, momma was scared to death. When did you folks teach your kids?

Around the pasture probably 6-8 years old. Open roads about 12-14. We have the last one at home now who is 15, who I wouldn't even come close to trusting at highway speeds yet. He drives worse than his mother!

On the farm utv and 4 wheelers 4 or 5. Vehicle 7 or 8?is. back roads and country hwy 8 or so. . My 13 year old was backing a trailer out of our 60 year old friends barn. The old boy wanted to un hook it and move the small utility trailer out bu hand. My boy said naw I will use the truck and do that for you. the youngest is more mechanical and equipment oriented than my 15 year old . 15 year old is beter at other things that require slowing down and not geting excited and sticking with it even after it gets old and boring.

I guess I was 9 or 10 when my grandfather let me start driving his old Ramcharger in the field behind the house. I remember on one of my first trips... I veered off the path and put the driver side wheel over a huge concrete chunk that was hidden in the weeds and the whole truck nearly rolled over!! But he didn't stop letting me drive, and a year or two later gave me the Ramcharger as my own... it was my prized possession at the time!

Dad bought this quarter midget I believe in 1967 from a friend and I think it was maybe new around 1962. Me and my brothers have all driven it till we outgrow it and it’s been used by 10 grandkids and 4 great grandkids. The one sitting in it now will be next when his feet reach the pedal

They drive a truck by 10 or 11 at my place. Depends on the kid.

Nice work, Dad! It shows your kid that you trust them and need their help. Thats a big deal.

Had my daughter in my lap on equipment when she was big enough to hold herself up. Let her use the controls on the 4 wheeler when she was about 5, drove trucks and tractors around the farm at about 7 or 8. She was a heck of an excavator operator by the time she was 10. Built 2 cattle watering ponds on our farm. Used to drive her mom crazy. She would come home from school and she and the dog would hop on the excavator. Eric

Started mine young too, like most here. I see a lot of kids now days that are 17, 18, 19 and still don’t have a drivers license or any ambition to get one.

I look forward to showing my wife this post and letting her know that I'm not the only one letting the kids drive. Thank you all for contributing, and keep the stories and pictures coming.

They can drive around 8. And, when they get a little older, I teach them to drive a standard.

Had a friend who taught drivers Ed. Said he could tell if a kid had mowed with a riding lawnmower.

Put my kids on a huge beach parking field in the closed season....nothing to hit in a hundred acres, lol, even had parking spots outlined for parking practice

We passed a very recent motorcycle crash when he was 8, like body not covered recent, it was on his side and he got a good view...Kid is the most careful driver I've ever seen...guess it stuck with him what could happen.

My boys were still in diapers ...backing up one of my 53 foot

Tractor trailers into the baahn...after I got home with a load

Of Canadian hay...one proud old man...right here

My son was 8 yrs old also . Bought a brand new 1/2 ton chevy with a 5 speed manual in 1995 . We were out setting fox traps in a corn field and were several hundrend yards from the truck ,when he says dad can i pull the truck up . He learned on his own . A few snatching and bucking and stalling the truck ,but he figured it out . I never had to replace the clutch in 22 yrs of owning it .

grandpa started me driving truck forward about 8-9

dad had me driving a bit at 12 , said if we are out if the woods hunting I best know how to drive him out if he were to get hurt.
that was a lesson in trails , and mud maintaining moment

13 I was driving all the time at the farm/pool/construction company I worked at and backing up trailers

15 I bought my first truck

16 soon as I had my license I had my own service van , driving around doing service calls and cleanings on Saturday

I was about 8-10. Had all my kids driving about that age too. Did a lot of outdoor stuff with them. Wanted to be sure they could get help if needed.

Used to take my son when he was young and we were working on the boat. Would say to him, "do you know where we are", and, "do you know how to get this rig home if I dropped dead right now? lol
Had to identify landmarks and how to run the boat to get back to the dock...He got good at it... then became an engineer and only wants to see water if he's taking a whiz...lol

Some don't take to this work...

That's what I do with my oldest. I expect him to know where we are and how to get us home in an emergency. We spend plenty of time in places without cell signal, and if I happen to get in bad shape or happen to crap out, I want him to be able to get himself or myself to safety.

If you kick the bucket, please make sure George and Emmett know how to make it to my house. I will let them use the phone to call their Mother and tell her where you are and inform her of their new mailing address.

I can do that 160. As it currently stands, Emmett would probably prefer it that way. He recently asked if we could adopt you so that you would legally be his uncle.