Do you protect your children a lot? Find out what kind of parent you are

Helicopter parents raise incompetent and dependent children, so it is necessary to establish ways of relating with your children

The idea of ​​"helicopter parenting" describes a style of educating children in which parents have an overprotective and overly controlling behavior with children, at such a level that conditions their actions and their way of existing.

Leer en español: ¿Proteges demasiado a tus hijos? Descubre qué tipo de padre helicópetro eres

According to a recent study by the University of Minnesota and published in Developmental Psychology, this overprotective behavior can be very harmful to them.

"Overprotective parents and ultracontrollers can have a very negative effect that affects the development of the child to properly manage their emotions and behaviors", the authors explain in a statement.

In addition, the research shows that those who "have helicopter parents are less able to deal with the challenges that their own growth demands such as: behaving well in class, making friends or having good school performance".

According to the Children's Guide, there are three types of helicopter parents:

1. The combat helicopter: are those who are constantly launched on their children so that they cannot be "damaged" and imposed on them

2. The traffic helicopter: mark the path they consider appropriate and help them in making decisions but allow them to choose their path

3. The rescue helicopter: always want to get their children out of crisis

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However, according to the study, this type of parenthood has long-term effects on the control of children's emotions, which could have great behavioral problems.

"They tend to be kids who do not control their mood swings, their emotions, their feelings and are weaker when facing the challenges of each stage of growth," the experts add.

A publication of the newspaper El País recalls previous research that had already influenced the negative consequences of overprotection in children, such as one developed in 2016. It concluded that "children with parents intruders and controllers, those who put too much pressure on the children to obtain good grades, they may be more likely to become highly self-critical, anxious and depressed".

What should I do then?

• Project safety, enthusiasm and self-esteem
• Give them positive coping tools
• Do not limit your opportunities and encourage them to investigate and socialize
• Guide the child so that he can solve his problems on his own, which will lead him to a better development of his mental and physical health and to have better social relationships and academic success

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• Assign responsibilities to them to acquire autonomy
• Involve them in decisions and actively involve them in family life.
• Set goals that are appropriate to their age

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Báez
Translated from “¿Proteges demasiado a tus hijos? Descubre qué tipo de padre helicópetro eres”

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