Psychology
Take the Test; Are you a helicopter parent?
Many college administrators are parents themselves, thus they realize how difficult parenting can be. And, they know from experience how much parents want for their sons and daughters.
Bring up the subject of “helicopter parents” though, and even the most patient college administrators will have lots of stories…none of them good…to tell.
What is a so-called helicopter parent? Just remember that a helicopter can hover almost endlessly, and you have your answer. “Although college is the time when most parents, like it or not, ‘let go’ of their children”, says a dean at a southern university, “helicopter parents slow their kids’ growth by being unable or unwilling to do so, so everybody loses”.
Answer the questions below honestly and you’ll see if the term helicopter parent applies to you. One “yes” means you certainly have helicopter parent tendencies. Two positive answers means that you are definitely a helicopter parent, and three or (heaven forbid) more affirmative responses means that you may want to ask yourself some hard questions about why you have so little confidence in your son or daughter
1. On college visits, did you talk to students and staff more than your child did?
2. During college visits, did you respond to questions addressed to your son/daughter or add to his/her answers?
3. Did you fill out your child’s application for admission?
4. Did you help write the admissions essay?
5. If your child tells you that his/her roommate is very difficult to live with, would you get involved?
6. If you are convinced that your child is being treated unfairly by an instructor, would you become involved?
7. During your child’s college search, did you eliminate from consideration, other than for economic reasons, colleges and universities more than a short drive from your hometown?
If you were able to answer these questions honestly, think about your “yes” answers and how your involvement in your child’s life affects his or her personal development. Sometimes parents who can’t bear to see their children make relatively small mistakes inadvertently set them up to be unprepared to make later decisions of far greater consequence.
