X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Over-Parenting Damages Children’s Personal Growth, Study Says

2 min read

There are many and varied reasons behind over-parenting, and most of them come from a good place: parents simply want their children to do well and have a better future.

Unfortunately, over-parenting does to children more harm than good. A Parent Herald report says that one of its repercussions is that it deprives children the opportunity to develop self-governance and autonomy.

What is over-parenting?

Over-parenting or helicopter parenting is a practice characterised by parents who hover over their children even into and through their young-adult years. According to Phys.org, this type of parenting method is highly criticised for creating very protected, unprepared young adults who return back home.

Types of helicopter parenting

An Atlantic article categorised helicopter parenting into different types: the “pink helicopters,” the “paramedics” and the “bystanders.”

“The bystanders refer to the less actively involved parents while paramedics play an active but more hands-off role in their children’s lives,” a Parent Herald report said. “Pink helicopters, on the other hand, are parents who took a less academically rigorous consideration.”

Negative side effects of helicopter parenting

Helicopter parenting has been known to worsen a child’s anxiety as well as their academic performance during their K-12 years.

Meanwhile, a Huffington Post story says that, in severe cases of over-parenting, it crates anxious, depressed, dependent and emotionally inhibited children.

“If we continue to over-parent our kids, we are in danger of raising further generations of adolescents that are missing three key virtues of character: self-reliance, self-confidence, and resilience,” said psychiatrist and author Abilash Gopal.

Root cause of helicopter parenting

Most often than not, over-parenting stems from the parents’ insecurity and need to appease their own ego, says an NPR article. As a result they want their children to do well so it reflects well on their own image.

Solving the helicopter parenting crisis, according to authors Julie Lythcott-Haims and Jessica Lahey, requires both schools and parents to stop blaming each other, and should instead work together to show kids the value of learning.

Partner Stories
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Facing Parenting Challenges? Help is at Hand. Just Reach Out.
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Bathroom Cleaning 101: A Complete Clean in Just 5 Minute Featuring Tips from Zoe Raymond
Bathroom Cleaning 101: A Complete Clean in Just 5 Minute Featuring Tips from Zoe Raymond

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. 

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

James Martinez

  • Home
  • /
  • Parenting
  • /
  • Over-Parenting Damages Children’s Personal Growth, Study Says
Share:
  • 4 Signs You've Become A Helicopter Parent

    4 Signs You've Become A Helicopter Parent

  • Research Shows How Helicopter Parenting Can Be A Result Of Perfectionism And Anxiety

    Research Shows How Helicopter Parenting Can Be A Result Of Perfectionism And Anxiety

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • 4 Signs You've Become A Helicopter Parent

    4 Signs You've Become A Helicopter Parent

  • Research Shows How Helicopter Parenting Can Be A Result Of Perfectionism And Anxiety

    Research Shows How Helicopter Parenting Can Be A Result Of Perfectionism And Anxiety

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.