The college years have traditionally been a time for young people to be challenged by new ideas, learn to think critically, and assume greater responsibility for their lives, as they assume their roles as adult citizens. Unfortunately, the past few years have witnessed high levels of emotional dependency, anxiety, and depression among American college students. Continue reading
Tag Archives: helicopter parents
Are you a Helicopter Parent? 10 Indicators of your Status
1. Have you filled out a college or job application for your child?
2. Have you made a doctor’s appointment for your adult child?
3. Do you text your child repeatedly only to be ignored?
4. Does it bother you that you cannot check their missing homework assignments and grades on-line?
5. Have you called or attempted to talk to your child’s professor?
6. Do you regularly ask about what they ate for their last meal?
7. Do you check their bank account balances?
8. Do you still do their laundry?
9. Are you still trying to determine their friends and dating partners?
10. Do you need to have confirmation that they are home each night and sleeping well?
While some of these questions might be appropriate for a parent to occasionally ask, if you answered yes to several of these questions, you are “hovering.”
If you answered yes,
9-10 You are hovering extremely low, and danger lies ahead for you and your child.
6-8 You are suffocating them, and any of their friends that you haven’t already scared away.
3-5 You are directly overhead, and your child is trying to run for cover.
1-2 Great job! You have found new ways to show love to your child as they step into adulthood.
Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to encourage emerging adults and their parents.