Helicopter parents are parents who are overcontrolling, overprotective and strict with their kids. Many parents practice helicopter parenting because of good and noble intentions: to protect and give a good future for their children. However, helicopter parents also need to examine if they are actually doing more harm than good.
Global Post and Brainy-Child shared some of the psychological effects of helicopter parenting. Learning these different effects on children might help helicopter parents ease up on this style of parenting.
1. Misbehavior
Being an overprotective parent might have an adverse effect on your child's behavior. "Overprotective parenting was moderately associated with childhood delinquency," Global Post shared. "By contrast, the authors reported that a moderate level of monitoring and consistent, reasonable disciplinary limits were correlated with low levels of delinquency."
2. Being too dependent
Kids of helicopter parents are more at risk of becoming too dependent on their parents for support and success. Many overprotective parents make all of the decisions for their kids and this does not help nurture independence and strength in children.
A photo posted by We 'R' Kids Paediatric Centre (@werkidsja) on Feb 20, 2016 at 4:01am PST
3. Low self-esteem
Kids of overprotective parents usually do not have enough life skills and practical experiences to help them succeed in different tasks. For this reason, their self-confidence and self-esteem suffer.
4. Failure to maintain a harmonious relationship.
Children's lack of independence can hinder the development of a harmonious relationship with other people. Some of these children have difficulties making relationship and marriage choices without deferring to their parents' decisions.
5. Anxiety and depression
"The results of helicopter parenting could be the development of over anxiety, fear, panic syndrome, and depression and isolation tendencies," Brainy-Child shares. The anxiety and depression come from the children's lack of experiences, basic skills and decision-making independence due to the overprotective parenting style provided by their helicopter parents.
