The Pros And Cons Of Helicopter Parenting

Can you imagine a kindergartener on the first day of school hiding behind his mother’s skirts? This is a pretty common event, but what if instead of giving her son that encouraging nudge he needs, she tells him that he does not have to do anything he does not want to. What about a college student whose mom calls him everyday to make sure he gets up on time to go to class? Or an adult who cannot get a job because he lacks all the necessary social skills and does not know how to conduct himself. All of these scenarios are brought on by what is called “helicopter parenting. Helicopter parents are becoming more and more of an epidemic in today’s world. As time goes on, it seems as though parents are the ones living their children’s lives. Helicopter

Starting school as a young child can be very scary, but it is always made easier with the help of friends- or parents. While some parental involvement can be very beneficial, too much can cause disaster. If a child does not feel the need to make friends, then they most often will not. Helicopter parents can contribute to this by becoming so involved in their child’s school life that they fill all of the social roles that a child needs, including a friend. This can lead to a stunt in the child’s developing social skills and ability to communicate effectively at a young age, which can build up and lead to the same problems later in life. Helicopter parenting can also affect the child’s teachers. A lot of helicopter parents will constantly ask the teacher questions and hover over what is being done in the classroom; however that might not always be a bad thing. Hiltz (2015) took a different approach when discussing the topic of helicopter parenting in schools. “Parents not only have a right but a responsibility to be involved in their child’s education. The presence of [helicopter parents] on campus holds teachers, schools, and districts to a certain kind of accountability” (Hiltz,

They hover above the child to keep them from any and all harm. This helicopter parenting style will affect their children all the way from their early childhood years to adulthood. While they think that what they are doing is helpful and supportive, the long term effects are extremely harmful. These consequences will not only impact the children, but also the people around them. Teachers and advisors all the way from primary school to college campuses are experiencing the impact. In all stages of life, helicopter parenting causes a significant amount of added social anxiety to their children, which causes stress over what other people would consider to be simple problems. This could be detrimental when it comes to making friends, keeping grades up, or finding a job. While it may seem like the right thing to do at the time, helicopter parenting will never be the right thing to do in the long