Is helicopter parenting an American thing?
May 29, 2012 | 4 Comments
The other day, I saw a headline about a new book that purports to help parents not be helicopter parents. I’d offer a link to the book, but I don’t remember the exact title. I do remember that it was thoroughly silly and useless, something about a “Worry-Bomb” and entitlement. I tried to find it online, but apparently it’s not that big a deal (so I wonder why it was on the news at all).
Anyway, it brings to mind an observation I’ve had – or, perhaps, an observation I’ve never had. I have never, to my recollection, witnessed “helicopter parenting”. Of course, I have a pretty small sample size that is generally restricted by age and geography, so maybe it’s a real thing… or maybe it’s just another epidemic lurking in the dark with vodka-soaked tampons and satanic robot pedophiles.
So, has anyone witnessed helicopter parenting? Is it rampant? Is it just an American thing, or maybe just a suburban thing?
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4 Responses to “Is helicopter parenting an American thing?”
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May 29th, 2012 @ 8:16 am
On facebook, a good friend informs me that helicopter parenting is alive and well, at least in the suburbs. I’m pretty glad I don’t have to worry about that stuff while at the park (I just have to worry about drunks – I’ll take that trade-off).
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May 30th, 2012 @ 4:14 pm
Part of childhood is scraped up knees and bumps. I’m not sure when we starting believing our children were so fragile. I think we are robbing them of such a huge part of childhood when we take away their ability to just be kids. I recently went on a rant about how I take the sidelines at the park when my son is playing because the park is his time and his place to figure things out. And more importantly- just be a kid! It’s here for anyone interested:
http://www.themommypsychologist.com/2012/04/30/helicopter-parenting-just-isnt-my-style/
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May 31st, 2012 @ 12:00 pm
Now that is irony. If anyone needed proof that helicopter parenting is a major problem today, it’s that the opposition to it is being led by someone called The Mommy Psychologist.
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June 12th, 2012 @ 11:25 am
Helicopter parenting is definitely alive and well.
As someone who has worked with a lot of different people over the years I’ve had everything from parents yell at me because of their adult child’s university grades, complain that their inmate adult child needs to be coddled more, and refuse to let their 12 year old kid walk three blocks to day camp because of all the pedos lurking around every bush.
Ridiculous
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