Are you a helicopter parent?

Helicopter parents is what you would call a parent who is over the top protective of their children. They are the moms or dads that is over involved in everything their child does in school. It’s one thing to be aware of what’s going on in your child’s life and being cautious of who they are with and what they are doing versus being the parent that picks and chooses everything they do and not giving your child any room to breathe. Some parents truly do confuse the difference between being a concerned parent vs. a helicopter parent. So, the question to ask yourself is, do you know if you’re actually a helicopter parent? Here are some signs to let you know:

• You never allow your child to solve their own problems: Of course it’s ok to listen and offer some advice, but if you don’t allow them to ever come up with their own solutions, even if they make a mistake, then you are a helicopter parent.
• You never allow your child to make a mistake: You are a helicopter parent if you always jump in when you see your child about to make a mistake.
• You do more than help when it comes to your child’s homework: You are a helicopter parent if you feel the need that your child’s homework or projects must be beyond perfect. Also, if you find yourself doing all the work while your child is playing, is a good indicator that you are a helicopter parent.
• You always give in and give your child everything: If you never want to disappoint your child and seem like the bad guy and let them get their way, you are a helicopter parent.

Now if you find that you are doing all of these things it’s not to late to learn how to back off a little from your child. Being a helicopter parent causes more harm to your child than you think. If you continue to “hover” over him or her, your child will not know how to be an independent adult. This means they will never know how to make any decisions without always coming back to you for advice and the one thing all parents want is to raise an independent, successful child. So, if you have just realized you’re a helicopter parent ease back and allow your child a little more freedom and trust you are raising a future successful child.

 

Written By: Tiffani Cassura, Staff Writer, Modern Domestic