Helicopter Parenting May Be Doing More to Kids’ Brains Than You Think
Last month I wrote about helicopter parenting arriving in the workplace. The pattern now runs from childhood through college dorms and into careers. But what does neuroscience say about its effects — and what can be done about it?
Although neuroscience has no scientific definition of helicopter parenting, it does not treat it as a single, tightly defined brain condition. However, it does address the family of behaviors behind it: overprotection, over-control, intrusion, and restricted autonomy — patterns that show up in how children’s brains develop, handle threats, address errors, and manage emotions.
In a world on edge, it is not surprising to see an increase in helicopter parenting. This style of parenting can originate from deep anxiety, a desire to protect children from pain or failure, and various cultural pressures surrounding success.
To make it even more challenging, the definition of success cannot be clearly defined today — leaving many parents even more on heightened alert.
