Helicopter Parenting: What is it? Its Impacts on Children

Have you ever heard about helicopter parenting? It has become one of the commonly used parenting terms. Are you one of them? Should you become a helicopter parent? To get these answers, we present “Helicopter Parenting: what is it? Its impacts on children”.

What is Helicopter Parenting?

Helicopter parenting is a form where parents do over-parenting (over-possessiveness, over-caring, etc.,) These parents are highly involved in their children’s life. From making decisions to solving problems, they do everything.

Traits of Helicopter Parents

1) Fight Children’s Battles

These parents fight their children’s battles. Suppose the child comes home crying, they will call the parents of other children to work out the problem.

2) Doing their Homework/Schoolwork

Parents complete their children’s schoolwork in the name of love. Understand that schoolwork is made for child learning, not for parents.

3) Over-Protected

Whenever your teen has to go somewhere, even in the neighborhood, helicopter parents drop them. They don’t let their children go out alone or with a small group of friends. They frequently check their phones.

4) Not Teaching Them Household Work

These parents do not let their children do any household work. They don’t let them tidy their room, make their bed, keep their utensils in the sink, fold clothes, etc.

5) You Can’t Let them Fail/Make a Mistake

Whenever a child fails in something or makes a mistake, these parents tell them that it’s not their fault the test was not correct, or it was the floor’s mistake to let them fall.

Impacts on Children

Helicopter parenting often leads to negative impacts on children, but there are some positive impacts also. Understanding these impacts can help parents understand their mistakes and do the right kind of parenting.

Positive Impacts

1) Sense of security

Children may feel a strong sense of security during helicopter parenting, as they know that their parents are always there for them, no matter what the situation is.

2) High Achievement

Such parents pay strong attention to their children’s academic performance. This eventually leads to high achievements and excellent academic performance.

3) Mental Stability

Despite not getting freedom, children who have helicopter parenting are mentally stable. They have strong support from their parents and are emotionally involved in every activity of the home. Therefore, they don’t get mentally sick.

Negative Impacts

1) No Freedom

Children don’t get any freedom. They don’t become independent and never get a feeling of independence. All the decisions in their lives are only made by their parents.

2) Anxiety and Stress

Due to high expectations of their parents and constant supervision, children may suffer from anxiety and stress.

3) Poor Coping Skills

Without understanding their mistakes, reflecting on their lives, and making no decisions, children can never grow. These children often have poor coping skills.

4) Poor Psychosocial Adjustment

These children suffer from poor psychosocial adjustments due to a lack of freedom and anti-socialness.

How to Improve Ourselves as Parents

The main target is to maintain a balance between being supportive and allowing children to grow independently.

1) Encourage Independence

In the end, it is the life of your children. Let them make decisions for themselves, fail, learn, and then grow. Whenever they get confused anywhere, help them out.

2) Foster Problem-Solving

Don’t just jump into their problems. Let them solve their battles and problems by themselves. Trust me, you will see a big change in their personality after fostering problem-solving.

3) Don’t Over Expect

They are children, and everyone makes mistakes, falls, and then regrows. So, there is no scope for keeping high expectations and making your child feel stressed.

4) Let them take responsibilities

It is not your job to complete their schoolwork or tidy their rooms. Let them take responsibility and learn household work. If you are not giving them small tasks/responsibilities from childhood, they will not be able to hold the workload pressure when they will become adults.

Conclusion

Helicopter parenting, while well-intentioned, can have significant impacts on a child’s development.

Being supportive is important, but too much of everything is bad. Therefore, understand the impacts and improve yourself.

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https://youtu.be/QXqjmIIhIrY?si=g1NFT9BJKmh1gQbf – watch it, to know the essence of parenting.