How to avoid Helicopter Parenting?
What is helicopter parenting?
Helicopter parents are the parents who are overly focussed on their child’s day to day experiences to the extent that they discourage their child’s independence.
“In toddlerhood, a helicopter parent might constantly shadow the child, always playing with and directing his behavior, allowing him zero alone time,” Dr. Dunnewold says.
This effects of these type of dominating urban parenting practices over time can include clinical depression, anxiety and stress.
Why do parents become helicopter parents?
Peer pressure from other parents –
When parents see other over-involved parents, they feel the need to same.
Competition –
Helicopter Parenting has become extremely common in India, mainly because of the high levels of competition in all fields here.
Anxiety –
Worries about things like social acceptance, economy and the world in general can push parents to take control of their child’s life right from their early age.
Overcompensation –
Adults who felt neglected and unloved as children, tend to overcompensate with their own children through over attention and monitoring.
How to avoid helicopter parenting ?
- Listen to your children. It allows them to develop their point of view.
- Give your child responsibilities.
Handling responsibilities gives your child the foundation she needs to understand the value of hard work.
- Don’t label your child both positively and negatively.
- Let you child make her own mistakes and learn from them.
There is no better teacher than life itself. You have learnt so much from your experiences – and your child will too.
- Make your child fight her own battles.
For example, stepping and in and doing your child’s home work just to save few hours for her will prevent her from learning how to stick it out. It is important to let them know you are there for them but as guides and helpers.
- Avoid stepping in for your child all the time – By doing this you are indirectly making it difficult for her to function on her own when she is out there all alone in the world.
