The Problem With Helicopter Parents

The parenting insanity crept up slowly but surely, before pouncing, inciting fear in moms and dads everywhere that they were not living up to parenting expectations. Macrobiotic hypoallergenic cupcakes and organic dairy-free ice cream became the cutting-edge snacks to serve at every childs birthday party. Moms attended every game, field trip, practice, and play date in which their kids participated. The line between being supportive and overprotective is becoming increasingly muddled, but undoubtedly, more and more parents are crossing it. These parents have been dubbed “Helicopter Parents” because of their tendency to hover over every aspect of their child’s life. They obviously love their children deeply, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Parents need to avoid helicopter parenting and limit involvement in their childrens lives in order to raise more successful adults.

“Helicopter Parent” is a relatively new term to describe parents who impart an excessive interest in their child and overwhelm their children with support. It has most recently been applied to Baby Boomer parents whose offspring are in the Millennial Generation. These parents grew up in a time when having many children was common, but now live in an age where people have fewer kids. This means that they have more time to invest in each child’s safety and success. These helicopter parents come in many forms, but are often characterized by their fear of the smallest injury to their child and daily involvement in their grown-up children’s life. The kind of intense, hands-on parenting style is a relatively recent occurrence. Starting in the 1990s parents began spending significantly more time with their kids (Ramey). These parents started hovering over their ch...

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