“Helicopter Parenting: a style of child rearing in which an overprotective mother or father discourages a child’s independence by being too involved in the child’s life.”

Helicopter parenting is a plague in which the autonomy of a child is afflicted. Parents everywhere are killing their kids with kindness. I believe this to be one of the worst styles of parenting simply because it is teaching the children to be reliant on others. Imagine becoming an adult and not knowing how to do your own laundry. One of the most important parts of life is learning how to cater to your basic needs without the help of others.

Hovering often begins when the child is young and can even continue throughout their college years. Parents who hover have an unnecessary attachment to their child—they want to protect their offspring from danger even when it’s in the form of a mundane task like preparing a meal. This can be detrimental to a child’s ability to act and think for himself not only when he is young, but also as an adult.

More often than not, hoverers don’t know that they are hovering. It is natural for a parent to want to protect their child from the bad things in the world, but it is unhealthy for them to prevent their children from learning through the bad experiences that they do encounter. Many parents who hover claim to be doing it out of love but are oblivious to the fact that they are promoting nescience in an already ignorant society.

To a certain extent, parents are responsible for how their child functions in life. If a child grows up with parents who do everything for him, he will most likely become an adult with unrealistic expectations of others and a warped perception on how the world works.

It is crucial for children to know the difference between strict parents and helicopter parents. Good parents should be caring towards their child and be willing to listen, but they should have defined rules for the children to follow. Children who have helicopter parents should seek guidance from their school or family counselors, as this is one of the best ways to deal with the problem head-on. Talking to a trustworthy adult who is outside of the family circle is also a recommended option. If you have helicopter parents, know that you have the power to speak up.