Dan, apologies if you think I, and others, are not being helpful. There is no formula or magic 3 tips that can help someone who insists on trying to learn on their own. The best option has already been suggested, get an instructor. If the kid refuses, the only other thing that MIGHT work, is to invest in a simulator and spend some time trying on it first. That MIGHT work, but it's still very possible that the kid will panic when trying to fly the real thing on his own the first time. An instructor is the best choice.