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Helicopter Parenting Essay

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College is a time of self-discovery and finding out where one’s true passions lie. For some students, college comes along with a crippling fear; having to live without their parents and their assistance. Naturally, when college-aged students first leave home, they will feel homesick at some point in their first year. When these students begin to call and text their parents about each and every decision they have to make throughout their day, the problem of helicopter parenting becomes evident. These children have been shielded from all negativity throughout their lives by their devoted parents. But, though these parents usually have good intentions, the effects that this parenting style can have on their children can be detrimental. Although helicopter parenting can shield children from short-term conflicts, it causes long-term issues for children, and is not a positive parenting style. Helicopter parenting encompasses a parenting style in which the parents “hover” over their children, shielding them from any problems or harm they might encounter. In theory, sheltering children from negativity in the world is not a bad thing. No five year old should have to understand the details of what a mass shooting is and how cruel the world can be. But gradually, parents need to allow their children to learn from mistakes and teach coping mechanisms. When parents do not permit their children to make mistakes, unconsciously teaching their children to have low self-esteem (Stahl). The issue with sheltering is that parents believe they can shield their children from failure when that is just not possible in today’s society. In addition to short-comings being inevitable, today’s society makes it much easier for helicopter parents to monitor over their children through technology even when they are not physically present. Millennials, on average, talk to their parents approximately nine times a week (Stahl). With this constant contact, it is arduous for children to be able to deal with life situations when twenty-four hour assistance is available via their telephones. In addition to lacking coping skills, the children of helicopter parents are at a higher risk to have anxiety and depression (“'Helicopter Parents' Stir Up

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