Analyzing the Negative Effects of Overprotective Parenting on Children

This essay examines the negative consequences of overprotective parenting on children's development, arguing that while parents have good intentions, excessive protection can lead to fear, lack of responsibility, poor decision-making skills, and social difficulties. It highlights how overprotected children often miss out on crucial self-directed activities and play experiences that foster independence and social competence. The essay further discusses how this parenting style can result in psychological disorders, egocentrism, and an inability to cope with real-life challenges in college and the workplace. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between parental concern and allowing children to explore and learn from their environment to ensure their healthy development and future success, while also pointing out the necessity of guidance from adults.

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THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF OVERPROTECTIVE PARENTING
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Introduction
Ideally, every parent wants the best for their kids and would not like to see them suffer
whatsoever. The degree to which a parents conduct check on their children is a basis of
categorization for different types of parent. While some parents tend to be so lenient with their
kids, others are too obsessed with their children up to a degree of denying them some play
activities fearing that they may get hurt. Overprotective parents majorly aim to keep their
children away from possible harms, bad experiences, rejection, disappointments, failure, and
sadness. These efforts by parents sound admirable. It makes parents appear as selfless beings
who dedicate their lives for the happiness of their children. However, a closer look and in-depth
analysis of the issue will lead to the identification of relevant insights on choosing the ideal
parenting style. Despite the fact that overprotective parents make their children experience the
best at the moment, it is worth noting that being overprotective makes children miss out in so
many experiences which paralyzes their lives in later stages. Self-directed activities by children,
especially play events, at a younger age play an important role in overall development.
Overprotective parenting inflicts unnecessary fear among children, hinders children from trying
new things, hampers responsibility and independence, broods egocentrism and increases the
chances of developing health problems later in life. Research on helicopter parenting reveals that
the method is not the best as it denies the children the chance to exercise autonomy and make
discoveries on their own.
Overprotective parenting cultivates fear among children often (Ungar, 2012, p. 262). This
prevents children from getting involved in new activities such as climbing and swinging.
Typically, helicopter parents discourage children from undertaking risky play activities
suppressing the adventurous nature of the children. Although some of these adventurous

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activities could be avenues or gaining social competence, the parents opt to keep their children
safe at the expense of discovery. However, these parents do not admit the fact that they make
their children live in fear. The statements that are made much often by parents such as ‘be
careful’ and ‘watch out’ are an evidence of inflicting fear on children. Eventually, the fears
become part of the children’s worldview, and the children structure their thoughts in similar
dimensions. The children may never escape the situation and fail to acquire necessary values
such courage and brevity. Ultimately, this fear will result in the creation of a completely new
generation living in fear of failure. Such a generation will be not competent in enough to
innovate new technologies which are a central part of the modern societies.
Children need to be taught how to take responsibilities at a young age failure to which
they will grow to irresponsible adults (Brussoni & Olsen, 2012, p. 28). Usually, children take
different roles while playing games which helps in developing a sense of responsibility. Children
who do not get involved in such plays may end up incompetent or incapable of playing them in
their adulthood. In most cases, the children who do not take roles in plays stay indoors and do
not get assigned to duties that could help develop their basic skills. If parents teach children to
escape responsibilities feigning protection, they will simply be teaching them that there will
always be someone to perform the chores for them. For instance, many parents hardly allow their
children to wash their easily washable clothes such as handkerchiefs and socks. Societies have
evolved to believe that giving children such a tasks amounts child labor. This perception
cultivates laziness among children. Unless children learn to perform basic chores at a young age,
they will hardly learn them in future or will be unable to perform them effectively.
With the gradually evolving trends in the societies schools have developed to be sub-
communities characterized by a range of challenges that were not existent in the past (Barcott,

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2011, p. 2). Overprotected children find it hard to adopt to the challenges at school. Due to
excessive dependence on their parents, they develop the same habit towards teachers. The
dependence on teachers causes a slowed intellectual development. Unlike their counterparts who
can do things on their own, the overprotected children need everything to be done to them.
Children from overprotective homesteads portray low levels of maturity compared to their peers
from free environments. Most teacher report that overprotected children pose challenge to them
as they usually need individual assistance which may not be possible at times. Overprotected
children tend to be easier targets for bullies. Much often, bullies target the children who are
much vulnerable or defenseless. Simply put, bullies do not attack the children who appear
independent and possess confidence fearing that they may end up being defeated in their own
game. Antisocial figures are therefore a perfect target and the bullies do not think that they can
challenge them.
Children brought up by overprotective parents are much likely of either drop out of
college or struggle at the workplace if they manage to secure a job within the competitive
modern job markets (Kennedy, et al., 2013, p. 12). Primarily, play acts in modeling and
hardening children or tougher times in the future. Children who do not take part in play only
realize the turbulence of social life in later stages and hardly manage to cope up. Essentially,
when college life sets in, children from overprotective backgrounds display incapability to adjust
and cope up with all the challenges that accompany college life. Being a college means that one
should be not only independent but also self-reliant (Kol, 2016). One is required to make serious
decisions on their own, a skill that many overprotected children do not develop. They usually
seem to be living in the lives of their parents or within a world of fantasy where everything
happens just as required without much struggle if any. In most cases, college students are forced

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to spend much of their time away from home. The overprotected individuals decry the absence of
their parents in such situations and may end up flunking out. Similarly, overprotected children
are failures in the workplace due to the inability to keep pace with the real-life situations which
tart to manifest in earlier stages during play activities. They usually lack the exposure and the
skills to thrive in the workplace. They normally have a low tolerance to hardships and
frustrations which are common in normal work environments. Furthermore, no one fights for
their interests at the workplace like their parents as the supervisor expects them to contribute
maximally. Such people either undergo constant terminations at the workplace or even become
unemployable.
Basically, overprotected children are slotted for failure not only at schools but also in life
(Kim, et al., 2012, p. 362). They are poor decision-makers and overly passive. When a child is
not allowed to explore life independently through play, he or she can hardly develop basic skills
that are required for survival in the modern world. In their young adulthood, overly protected
children tend to be extremely dependent on their parents and are unaccustomed to independent
decision-making. As a result, of poor decision-making skills, these children are always at
crossroads or frustrated. Even at college level, they depend on their parents to choose their
majors. Lack of interest in the chosen majors drives them to failure.
Overprotected children normally form a greater percentage of spoiled kids and can hardly
engage in sustainable relationships with others (Blitvich & Petrass, 2011, p. 128). Due to limited
socialization at their earlier stages in life, they presuppose that everything should always work in
their favor. They are inherently narcissistic and would never thrive in an environment where
equality I emphasized. They portray an inability to maintain sustainable relationships as they are
extremely passive. Their parents hardly allow them to engage in play activities with other

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children fearing that they will get hurt. As a result, they lack vital social skills and have their
partners dominate the relationships that they engage in (Tierney, 2012). They tend to be abusive
to their partners who end up dropping them for this reason. They fear commitments a fact that
explains why they cannot develop a backbone which would lead to a more fulfilling relationship.
Despite its good intentions, overprotective parenting may cause psychological disorders
among children (Pleck, 2011, p. 233). Stress disorders are the most popular health implication of
raising children in an extremely soft manner. Children may either develop chronic or acute stress
easily linkable to the type of parenting one is exposed to. We all agree the severity of the impact
of chronic stress. Among growing children, chronic stress might be as a result of exposure to
violence, emotional abuse, and extreme worries. Exposure to a chronically stressful childhood
may result to serious implications in adulthood including depression and anxiety. This extreme
type of stress is usually discouraged and should not be inflicted on growing children
Acute stress on the other hand is usually a response to dangerous stimulus, frightening or
even competition and can be resolved in a short period (Sandseter & Kennair, 2012, p. 277). All
forms of play in childhood involve some specific level of acute stress Games involving contests
and competitive stress induce acute stress among the players. This perhaps explains why children
enjoy them. Acute stress is not only a basis of fun but also beneficial. It results to a wholesome
development of a child. Its necessity can only be drawn when one in his or her late stages
portrays inability to withstand minimal amounts of stress. Stress deprivation implies that one is
not conditioned to endure stressful situations or properly respond to them. Generally, mild or
acute stress is vital for brain development, social skills enhancement and improving mental
abilities. Additionally, helicopter kids are much likely to suffer other illnesses unrelated to
psychology later in life. The hardly learn how to manage their health problems as their parents

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are always in control. In the absence of the parents who give constant reminders on what to do,
the children cannot care for their health. Helicopter kids are also involved in limited physical
activities which may trigger the development of chronic illnesses such as stroke and conditions
such as obesity.
Overprotection breeds a generation of egocentric children who feel entitled to everything.
Helicopter parents usually make their children to feel as if they are the center of the universe
(Tierney, 2013, p. 22). Such children develop the notion that they are an extra special entity. This
notion is cultivated by the deprival from social activities with other kids. However, the
entitlement hardly lasts over 18 years. When they turn to adulthood, they realize that the world
does not just revolve around them as they must fulfil some responsibilities and stay at the level
of propriety. They realize that thy do not just deserve everything owing to the social life dictates.
Their initially satisfied demands often go unsatisfied or even unrealized. The society often
represses what they deemed as their entitlements leading to disappointments. To avoid
disappointments later in life, parents should harden their children and make them believe that
they must learn how to coexist with others as most of the entitlements do not last forever.
Conclusion
Conclusively, criticizing overprotection does not mean that parent should not exercise
caution. Even though children should learn to be independent in earlier stages in life, the need
maximum guidance from the adults as they are much often unaware of the dangers in their
environment. However, a line needs to be drawn between being concerned and being
overprotective. Overprotective parents perceive all social and physical activities as potential
dangers. Concerned parents define what ought to be done and give limits that should not be
exceeded. Being overprotective can cause more harm as not all children comply with the given

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instructions. Those who resist end up leading miserable lives. A child should be made to learn
what is acceptable and what is not acceptable rather than being deprived from all activities.
References
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Blitvich, J. D. & Petrass, L., 2011. Parent/caregiver supervision and child injury: A systematic
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Brussoni, M. & Olsen, L., 2012. The perils of overprotective parenting: Fathers' perspectives
explored. Child Care Health and Development, 39(2), pp. 1-23.
Kennedy, A. E., Rubin, K. & Hastings, P. D., 2013. Longitudinal relations between child vagal
tone and parenting behavior: 2 to 4 years. Developmental Psychobiology, Volume 45, pp. 10-21.
Kim, S., Brody, G. H. & Murry, V. M., 2012. Longitudinal links between contextual risks,
parenting, and youth outcomes in rural African American families. Journal of Black Psychology,
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Tierney, J., 2012. Can a playground be too safe, New York: New York Times.
Tierney, J., 2013. Can a playground be too safe. New York: New York Times.
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