The meaning of helicopter parenting is loosely defined as parenting that pays excessive attention to children's every move and experience. Helicopter parents are highly involved, overprotective parents who tirelessly oversee every aspect of their children's lives and sometimes even act on their behalf.
“Hovering” over children rather than encouraging autonomy and healthy separation. Excessive anxiety about children failing or getting hurt. Being overly involved in all areas of a child's life (academics, recreational activities, and friendships)
Studies show that children of helicopter parents can experience long-lasting psychological repercussions that can follow them into adolescence and adulthood. In particular, when a parent is overly controlling, children have a harder time learning to manage their emotions and behavior.
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.
Lighthouse parenting is a style of parenting which, as its name suggests, considers the parent to be a lighthouse, guiding and supporting their child.
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.”
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.
Results showed that higher overall helicopter parenting scores were associated with stronger symptoms of anxiety and depression. According to that study, helicopter parenting “was also associated with poorer functioning in emotional functioning, decision making, and academic functioning.
Helicopter parenting is when parents are over-involved in their child's life, many times as a way to protect their child. This style can result in the child lacking independence, having poor decision-making and coping skills, etc.
Helicopter parenting increases a child's depression and anxiety levels. They are always in look out for guidance, and when left alone, they become too nervous to take a decision. Multiple studies over the past decade summarize the social and psychological risks of being a helicopter parent's child.
Neuropsychologist Britt Frank agrees that helicopter parenting can do serious damage to young adults. As she told Deseret News, “Adult children who have overprotective parents can develop depression, anxiety disorders, struggle in relationships and experience difficulty with self-esteem and self-confidence.”
Positives of Helicopter Parenting
Their children tend to get lots of support and guidance with whatever is going on in their lives. Helicopter parents of younger children and teenagers also are likely to know where their kids are at all times, which is an important safety consideration.
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.
Psychologists and experts agree that kids with an uninvolved or neglectful parent generally have the most negative outcomes. A neglectful mother is not simply a parent who gives a child more freedom or less face-time. Negligent parents neglect their other duties as parents, too.
Authoritarian Parents are Cold and Non-Nurturing.
When they are upset with their children, authoritarian parents are also more likely to yell or berate. They use the term “tough love” to justify their unresponsiveness and mean attitudes towards their kids.
Analyzing the parenting style of mothers and fathers, authoritative was the most common parenting style and permissive was the least common parenting style. A study conducted by Bamhart et al.
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.
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.
“Similar to the helicopter and lawnmower parents before them, jackhammer parents scrutinize both their children's opportunities and challenges, intervening in schooling, grades, and friendships.
In her article for Motherly, she wrote " Hummingbird parents hover but do not interfere too much in the decisions of their children. They remain physically (or psychologically) nearby to jump in if their children need them, but they try to not make decisions for them or prevent their failures."
Dragon mothers are mothers who grieve for children who have died or are terminally ill. By Judy Bolton-Fasman, Contributor. Writer.
A “Disney Parent” actually has a legal definition: “a noncustodial parent who indulges his or her child with gifts and good times during visitation and leaves most or all disciplinary responsibilities to the other parent.” It's usually used in reference to the father, since we are typically the non-custodial parent, ...