The Huffington Post – Carolyn Gregoire
“Parents want their kids to be safe and protected — but trying to shield a child from all of life’s challenges can come at a cost. Psychologists have found that parents who do this too much — and become what are known as “helicopter parents” — may actually cause problems for their children, including having low self-worth and engaging in risky behaviors like smoking and binge drinking…Helicopter parenting — which consists of being over-involved in a child’s life, making decisions on their behalf, solving their problems and inserting oneself into their conflicts — can have a negative effect on a child’s psychological well-being, relationships and school engagement…So what does this parental over-involvement do to a young person’s brain?…the teenage years are a critical period for brain development. Teens must gain experience making their own decisions and solving their own problems in order to develop key executive functions like problem-solving and impulse control…Effective parenting likely involves giving teens a balance of freedom and support.”(more)