by Ben Hughes

Created on: December 01, 2008

The term "helicopter parents" is an American 21st century description for parents who pay extremely close attention to their child's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. However, it's becoming increasingly popular in other areas of the child's life such as employment and relationships issues.

It will often be an unhealthy intervention as parents rush to prevent any harm or failure from holding their child back and in doing so, will not let them learn from their own mistakes. As they fight their child's battles and make their decisions for them, the interference from "Helicopter parents" can even be against the child's wishes.

So what have helicopters got to do with parenting? The term comes from the ability of these parents to hover closely overhead, as helicopters do. They are always within reach and never seem to go away, even when everyone else wants them to.

In the modern world, it's easy for parents to stay in contact. The rise of the cell phone is often blamed for the explosion of helicopter parenting, while the parents often cite their interest in their child's welfare and education as the reason for their close involvement. This has been supported by some degree by federal laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which have also recognized the importance of family in the educational process.

BENEFITS OF HELICOPTER PARENTS

There is increasing evidence that parents should take a greater interest in their children's education. Children whose parents play an active role do better in school and are more likely to enrol in college and university.

Many teenagers even welcome their parents' participation and I know many children of school age who are desperate for parental involvement. Despite comments to the contrary, I feel that too many children are left on their own and consequently underachieve in education.

DISADVANTAGES OF HELICOPTER PARENTS

Despite the obvious problems with interfering parents, there are other disadvantages which should serve as a warning to potential helicopter parents.

These include bringing up a child who can't think for themselves, is unable to learn how to defend themselves or resolve problems on their own. There are also issues around bullying from peers from always having Mummy or Daddy over their shoulder.

STEP BACK

While the intention of helicopter parents is undoubtedly positive, they need to learn how and when to take a step back and let their child fend for themselves. Despite the need for parental involvement in their child's education, research indicates that too much parental involvement can lead to the child being stifled and actually contribute to reducing high school grades. Encouraging independence is important for both parent and child.

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