and then there's my 18+ year old son who I'm just now teaching how to drive the car....no six flags tickets needed for me this year,
I've tried to use the same method with him (maybe to much as I was the Scoutmaster, etc...), he was about 15 and one lonely day at the ramp, it was just he and I and I suggest why don't you unload the boat today, if your not comfortable getting close to the dock just circle in the cove to keep control of the boat and I'll be back from parking the truck in a minute,
I come back to hear the engines roaring and he's off and on doing donuts with the boat in the cove..... 'cause you know, I told him to "turn some circles"
a few weeks ago we took a bunch of kids, he being the oldest I deferred to him and asked if he wanted to unload/dock the boat, he did, wouldn't you know it was the time I forgot to put in the transom plug, no big deal I made sure to ask him if the bilge was on so I knew I had a few minutes
I get to the dock and he's about 30 feet away with no engines running, he's turned them off because he couldn't get no wake to activate and now can't get them restarted, he's not in neutral, then the port won't start because the lock nut on the key switch is broke and it just spins, he of course knows it all and doesn't pay attention when I've explained it in the past, so I tell him go to neutral and come over on one engine.... uggh
every kid is different,
One very important thing is to be sure they know emergency procedures, my wife doesn't go on the boat so many times I'm the only adult, I usually go over with them every other trip as I've also got a 13yr old now that I'm trying to indoctrinate, if I'm hurt, stop the boat, call 911, get the air horn for help if you see another boat, etc...