Is your child a victim of ‘helicopter parenting’? This term which means hovering over children all the time may negatively impact their behaviour, finds a study
‘Helicopter parenting’ — which describes an overcontrolling behaviour of parents — can negatively affect children’s ability to manage their emotions and deal with the challenging demands of growing up, a study has found.
Children need space to learn and grow on their own, without parents hovering over them, researchers said in a study published in the journal Developmental Psychology. “Our research showed that children with helicopter parents may be less able to deal with the challenging demands of growing up, especially with navigating the complex school environment,” said Nicole B Perry from the University of Minnesota in the US.
“Children who cannot regulate their emotions and behaviour effectively are more likely to act out in the classroom, to have a harder time making friends and to struggle in school,” she added. Children rely on caregivers for guidance. They need parents who are sensitive to their needs, recognise when they are capable of managing a situation and will guide them when emotional situations become too challenging.
This helps children develop the ability to handle challenging situations on their own as they grow up, leads to better mental and physical health, healthier social relationships and academic success.
Managing emotions and behaviour are fundamental skills that all children need to learn and overcontrolling parenting can limits those opportunities, said Perry.