‘Helicopter parenting’, ‘overprotective’, ‘overparenting’: words being used more and more as time goes on. All mean the same. Parents are becoming so involved in their kids’ lives that they are unable to think or live for themselves as they get older. These ‘helicopter parents’ cause multitudinous problems, such as a lack of responsibility and independence, low self esteem, and the inability to accept failure. The most apparent influence on a child, parents often feel pressure to be sure that their kid is doing well in school and other areas of their lives. In moderation, this is beneficial because it shapes the children’s personalities and teaches them right from wrong. If guidance turns to overparenting though, damage can be done to the
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Experts have provend that down the line, the “empty acts [helicopter parents] mistake for nurturance are, at best, substitutes for real love and, at worst, forms of actual abuse” (Firestone). Overprotective parents believe that they are helping their children, while they are actually hurting them as they grow up. Also, teenagers “often test the boundaries of their overprotective parents because these children have likely not developed a sense of responsibility for their actions” (Hewitt). Teenagers who have overprotective parents never had the chance to take responsibility for themselves, so they do not have that valuable skill as they get older. Overparenting may not seem like an issue, it might even be seen as a helpful method, but in the long-term this assumption is entirely incorrect. Children are not able to acquire basic yet important social skills, such as responsibility for their actions and becoming close with new people. The mentality of overparenting is to keep the children as safe as possible from strangers and harm, but it becomes impossible for the guardians to keep that up through their kids’ adult or even teenage lives. The unknown abuses and lack of responsibility caused by overparenting become extremely problematic when the children get …show more content…
Brain science experts have agreed that “by waiting a minute before acting, you allow yourself to… get information or advice” ("Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals" 3). This advice can come from parents, and stop a child from making a harmful decision. Also, the debate between overparenting and not parenting enough is “a tricky line to walk, since studies link parents' engagement in a child's education to better grades, higher test scores, less substance abuse and better college outcomes. Given a choice, teachers say, overinvolved parents are preferable to invisible ones” (Gibbs 4). Parents who are engaged in their children’s lives are helpful, but when they cross the line into overparenting, it becomes a problem. While overparenting is an issue, some parental involvement is advantageous. Parents can help a child through tough times, stop bad decisions, and improve his academic performance. The most impactful people in a child’s life are his parents; they influence almost every aspect from personality to respect and responsibility. Removed and invisible parents create a whole new set of problems, which numerous people, including teachers, argue are worse than those problems created by overparenting. Parents should be a part of their children’s lives and guide them throughout their
Experts have provend that down the line, the “empty acts [helicopter parents] mistake for nurturance are, at best, substitutes for real love and, at worst, forms of actual abuse” (Firestone). Overprotective parents believe that they are helping their children, while they are actually hurting them as they grow up. Also, teenagers “often test the boundaries of their overprotective parents because these children have likely not developed a sense of responsibility for their actions” (Hewitt). Teenagers who have overprotective parents never had the chance to take responsibility for themselves, so they do not have that valuable skill as they get older. Overparenting may not seem like an issue, it might even be seen as a helpful method, but in the long-term this assumption is entirely incorrect. Children are not able to acquire basic yet important social skills, such as responsibility for their actions and becoming close with new people. The mentality of overparenting is to keep the children as safe as possible from strangers and harm, but it becomes impossible for the guardians to keep that up through their kids’ adult or even teenage lives. The unknown abuses and lack of responsibility caused by overparenting become extremely problematic when the children get …show more content…
Brain science experts have agreed that “by waiting a minute before acting, you allow yourself to… get information or advice” ("Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals" 3). This advice can come from parents, and stop a child from making a harmful decision. Also, the debate between overparenting and not parenting enough is “a tricky line to walk, since studies link parents' engagement in a child's education to better grades, higher test scores, less substance abuse and better college outcomes. Given a choice, teachers say, overinvolved parents are preferable to invisible ones” (Gibbs 4). Parents who are engaged in their children’s lives are helpful, but when they cross the line into overparenting, it becomes a problem. While overparenting is an issue, some parental involvement is advantageous. Parents can help a child through tough times, stop bad decisions, and improve his academic performance. The most impactful people in a child’s life are his parents; they influence almost every aspect from personality to respect and responsibility. Removed and invisible parents create a whole new set of problems, which numerous people, including teachers, argue are worse than those problems created by overparenting. Parents should be a part of their children’s lives and guide them throughout their