Named after the machine used for cutting grass, a lawnmower parent will “mow down” any obstacle their child might experience. According to a professor who coined the term in a blog post, lawnmower parents “rush ahead to intervene, saving the child from any potential inconvenience, problem, or discomfort".
Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist defines lawnmower parenting (also referred to as “bulldozing parenting” and “snowplow parenting”) simply as: “when parents remove obstacles for their kids in hopes of setting them up to be successful.”
Lawnmower parents are the newest breed of overbearing parents who are excessively involved in their children's lives. They plow ahead—micromanaging, interfering, and arranging. Their goal is to protect them from failure, disappointment, discomfort, and adversity.
Lawnmower Parents Are the New Helicopter Parents & We Are Not Here for It. Lawnmower parents go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their child from having to face adversity, struggle, or failure. Instead of preparing children for challenges, they mow obstacles down so kids won't experience them in the first place ...
If a lawn mower parent starts shouting at you, don't shout back—and do what you can to keep from getting emotional. Either reaction will feel like a victory to the parent. Keep in mind that parents, in these situations, are not responding to you as a person but rather to your position of authority over their children.
While helicopter parenting involves “hovering,” or keeping a close eye on a child's every move, lawnmower parenting typically involves more intervention. A lawnmower parent might: Complete homework or projects for their child. Email teachers to argue about grades.
Lighthouse parenting is a style of parenting which, as its name suggests, considers the parent to be a lighthouse, guiding and supporting their child.
Snowplow parenting, also called lawnmower parenting or bulldozer parenting, is a parenting style that seeks to remove all obstacles from a child's path so they don't experience pain, failure, or discomfort.
To date, some of the best known include: Tiger parents, who are seen as pushing their children to succeed according to their parents' terms. Helicopter parents, who take over every aspect of the child's life. Snowplough parents, who remove obstacles to make life easier for their child.
While helicopter parents hover over their children, much like a helicopter over the ground, lawnmower parents make it their goal to pave the way to success for their child–just like a lawnmower cutting grass. They “mow down” any hardships or difficulties for their children, removing any obstacle in their path.
We defined tiger parents as those who practice positive and negative parenting strategies simultaneously. Tiger parents are engaging in some positive parenting behaviors; however, unlike supportive parents, tiger parents also scored high on negative parenting dimensions.
The term elephant parent refers to a parent who is very nurturing and protective and tends to focus on the emotions of his or her child over academic or athletic success. An elephant parent is relaxed about their child's academic achievement or sporting prowess. Instead, they prize emotional security and connection.
Lawnmower parenting occurs when a parent isn't able to trust their child's decision-making skills, which leads parents to constantly intervene in their child's life, such as by making decisions for them and removing obstacles from their path.
According to Yahoo!, panda parenting is all about “gently guiding your little one, as opposed to shoving them down the parenting path”. In other words, a panda parent is one who gives their kids the freedom to do things their own way.
The four main parenting styles — permissive, authoritative, neglectful and authoritarian — used in child psychology today are based on the work of Diana Baumrind, a developmental psychologist, and Stanford researchers Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin.
Snowplow Parenting
They do everything they can to remove the things that stand in their kids' way. Think of snowplow parents as micro-managers. They want the best for their kids. Therefore, they're different than helicopter parents. Helicopter parents may try to impede a child's freedom out of fear.
Permissive or 'jellyfish' parenting places few rules or demands on kids and parents seldom follow through on consequences when children do not follow the rules. This parenting approach often results in children who rank low in happiness and self-regulation.
They are supportive: Dolphin parents try to find the right balance. They support their child with their education and other choices. However, they don't put pressure on their child or punish them too harshly. They aim to build a good bond so their child feels they can make mistakes and come to their parent for support.
The parenting style that is best for children is the supportive style. It's a style where you are warm and loving and you're affectionate but you also create structure and boundaries for your children, and you guide their behaviour.
Ostrich Parenting: Deal with the eating disorder by attempting to disengage or ignore the problem. Parents feel anxious and worried about speaking openly and bluntly about food.
Dragon mothers are mothers who grieve for children who have died or are terminally ill. Judy Bolton-Fasman, Contributor.
A hummingbird parent watches over their little ones, but they don't meddle too much in their decisions. They try not to make decisions for their children or shield them from failure, but they try to stay physically (or psychologically) close by so they can help if their children need it.
A New York Times blog describes velcro parents as parents who cannot let go of their children. They are super-involved in their children's lives. The problem with this approach to parenting is that their children will take forever to learn how to cope with the tough decisions and situations which life puts in our path.
Last post, I defined “umbrella parents” as parents who have to do what it takes to get their child's needs served, even if it means looking like a 'smother mother' to other parents.
Butterfly parenting is also allowing your child to spread their own wings, even if it's in a different direction than you would have hoped for them.