A few months before my son Hayden was born, I wrote a piece on the things I want to teach him about cars. One of those was that it’s OK if he’s not a gearhead at all; what matters most is him being himself. He’s more than seven months old now and that hasn’t changed, but I’m still trying to gradually get him into cars because it would be wonderful to share a lifelong passion with him. To my surprise, I’ve been getting a lot of help from other people.
Everyday Language
I can’t honestly say that I’ve consciously started using automotive terms and phrases as part of a sly scheme to slowly indoctrinate Hayden into the world of automotive fandom. The truth is that many of the things I say to or around him just come out of my mouth naturally because I’m a car nerd. For instance, if he’s in his stroller and I have to pop the front end up onto a sidewalk, I say, “Let’s see what kind of approach angle this thing has.” If I need to push the little guy in his stroller up a steep hill, I say, “Time to put it in 4LO.”
When it’s time to change my son’s diaper, there’s always a chance he’s had a “blowout.” There have been several times when I’ve had him on the changing table and he’s kicked his left leg out. I usually ask him, “Are trying to kick-start your imaginary motorcycle?” He just smiles. I guess I’ll never know. (I hope he’s wearing his imaginary helmet.)
Going for a Ride
I’ve been fortunate to take Mr. H for rides in not only my family’s cars, but also several press vehicles, including the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum and the 2025 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige. Perhaps he’ll remember something from one of the many cars and SUVs he’s been in. Perhaps not. At the very least, I hope he always associates buckling in with going somewhere in a car.
A Good Investment
Several weeks ago, my wife was in the mood to buy our little man some toys. Both of us got him one that reflected our personalities, then we agreed on one that seemed very Hayden. My choice? The Turn & Learn Driver from VTech. It was money well spent. He’s gotten so much enjoyment out of it by honking the horn, using the turn signal stalk, turning the wheel from lock to lock, and even adjusting the driver-side mirror. Now he’s a better driver than a lot of people in Phoenix.
YouTubin’
I watch a lot of Hayden’s favorite program with him (more on that below), but I also show him the stuff I like to watch. He’s too young for James Bond movies and blue comedy podcasts, so I usually play car videos on YouTube. At this point, I’d like to think he has some awareness of Jay Leno. This past weekend, we watched a big chunk of the 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance together. Hayden may never remember that special viewing experience, but I always will.
Clothing, Gifts, and Gear
Early on in my wife’s pregnancy, my friend Steve gave me a small book that he thought would be right for our son. It’s shaped like the profile of a first-generation Porsche Boxster and has cartoonishly oversized chunky plastic wheels. Every time I carry my boy into his nursery, we pass by a display case that holds that book and other things we want him to learn about and enjoy. I’d like to think he sees Steve’s gift when he’s in his crib, looking at the big world around him and trying to figure it out. Cars ended up being an answer for me; perhaps they’ll be one for him too.
We’ve had a lot of family members fly in to meet Hayden, many of whom have bought him baby clothes. They’re all very cute, but my favorites are the ones with little cars or Jeep-like SUVs on them (I welcome every little potential influence). I don’t think Hayden cares much about what he’s wearing – he seems perfectly happy being in just a diaper.
Celebrity Assistance
Now that I’m a father, I’m keenly aware of Ms. Rachel. She’s more than “a passionate educator who creates research-based videos to help toddlers and their families learn, bond, and thrive,” as her website states – she’s a baby whisperer. If Hayden is fussy even after I’ve changed, fed, and cuddled him, I just throw on Ms. Rachel and the second he hears her voice, he gets quiet and locks onto the TV screen. I also appreciate that she shows little cars in her videos and teaches children and parents how to sign the words “blue car” in American Sign Language. While sourcing photos for this article, I learned Ms. Rachel has an entire 22-minute speech practice video for toddlers that focuses on automobiles. When Hayden’s old enough to use the lessons in it, I’ll make sure to watch it with him.
I know all this is more than likely pie in the sky because Hayden is so young that he’ll probably forget these early days, but that’s OK. For now, I’ll keep trying to steer him toward (pun intended) an interest in cars because I really don’t know what he’s into (aside from Ms. Rachel). When I discover what exactly that is, I’ll stop. Then I’ll start listening to why he loves it so much.