Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

Here's how you can tell if you are a helicopter parent

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Jun 2, 2022, 19:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/7

Signs you're a helicopter parent

Once you become a parent, all you care about is raising your kid right, shielding them from danger and keeping their priorities above everything. The world seems to revolve around your children and there's nothing that matters more than them to you.

But in trying to help your kids live a wholesome life, make sure you're not living your child's life for them. In simple terms, see that you're not taking over their decisions, their dreams and most importantly, their lives. These are all signs of helicopter parenting.

Also read: Tantrums are important for child's growth; learn tips to handle them like a pro

2/7

What is helicopter parenting?

Helicopter parenting is a type of parenting style wherein parents are over-indulgent in their kid's life. They pay extremely close attention to their activities and make sure to interfere in their day to day lives. From choosing their friends to completing their schoolwork, helicopter parents are everywhere. While the main objective of such parents is to protect their children from getting hurt and being disappointed, experts believe being too involved in one's child's life may deprive them of their confidence and self esteem.

That said, if you want to avoid that and want your child to thrive, watch out for these signs of helicopter parenting.

Also read: Kids brain booster seeds: Include these beneficial seeds in your child's diet to boost brain health

3/7

You fight your kid's battles

Standing up for your child is one thing, but fighting their battles for them is a completely different matter. Helicopter parents tend to take matters in their own hands, which means they single-handedly try to resolve their kid's problems instead of letting them handle it on their own. This could backfire when children grow up to be adults. They may run away from a crisis situation, might fail to overcome challenges on their own and may become dependent on other people.

So, until and unless you want your child to have such negative qualities, it is best to let them handle situations on their own. Give them the support and guidance they need, but let them do their thing.

4/7

You do their homework and house chores

As a parent, you may feel obligated to help your child with their academic work, may feel like it's your duty to teach them house chores, which is justifiable. However, what you should avoid is doing their work for them.

Often parents cannot see their children struggling, which is why they step in and finish their work for them. While it may seem right at that particular moment, it may affect them later on in life. Not only will they lag behind in their studies, they'll also be deprived of various other knowledge. Hence, let them do their own work, finish their own homework and chores.

5/7

You tutor your child's teachers

One of the tell-tale signs of a helicopter parent is teaching your child's teachers how to do their job. It usually happens when you feel your child underperformed and start advising their teachers or sport coaches about how they're doing everything wrong and what they should do instead. That said, instead of taking your kid's teachers' class, make your child able enough to ask questions and express their opinion.

6/7

You protect them from failure

Everyone faces several problems in their life. What matters in the end is how you deal with them. Helicopter parents believe in protecting their children from failure and disappointments, which may seem like a great way to protect their self-esteem, but instead, it may cause more harm eventually. From damaging their ability to overcome difficult situations to constantly being fearful of failure, there are many ways helicopter parenting can affect the child's psyche.

7/7

You decide who their friends will be

No matter what happens, your child should always have a say in deciding who his or her friends will be. Helicopter parents fail to recognize that. They decide everything for their children, even who their friends will be. While such parents may think they're shielding their children from the wrong people, they're only making them more doubtful of their ability to make the right choices and also giving light to negative emotions.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Personality test: The colour you choose reveals if you're grounded, emotionally distant, a dreamer, a rebel, controlling, sensitive, passionate or chilled out
  • MMA legend Conor McGregor’s Las Vegas mansion is a millions-worth property defined by world-class luxury, private elevator and Strip views
  • How Lalit Modi convinced his family to accept his marriage to Minal Sagrani, who was 10 years older: The love story that defied the odds
  • Child behavior expert says these 5 common phrases parents say to their children can hurt them psychologically
  • Proverb of the day: “The donkey that feared the dust of the road spent its life admiring...”
  • Man who lost nearly 32 kgs reveals the weight-loss mistakes most people keep making
  • Quote of the day for kids by Malcolm X: "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to..."
  • 5 life skills parents should teach children because AI can’t replace them
  • Too much screen time? Here are 8 things parents can do to set healthy boundaries for kids
Photostories
  • MMA legend Conor McGregor’s Las Vegas mansion is a millions-worth property defined by world-class luxury, private elevator and Strip views
  • The 5 numbers cardiologists want every adult to know before it's too late
  • Child behavior expert says these 5 common phrases parents say to their children can hurt them psychologically
  • 8 words that women hate from the core of their heart: Which one can YOU not stand
  • Getting married soon? 10 common questions women should ask themselves before tying the knot
  • Millions of women live with period pain, PMOS and UTIs: But experts say that doesn't make them normal
  • From Spiti to Antarctica: World's most unusual post offices every traveller should visit
  • Too much screen time? Here are 8 things parents can do to set healthy boundaries for kids
  • Aamir Ali’s luxurious Mumbai house: A massive living room, art collection, walk-in wardrobe and more
Explore more Stories
  • 6
    Child behavior expert says these 5 common phrases parents say to their children can hurt them psychologically
  • 11
    Too much screen time? Here are 8 things parents can do to set healthy boundaries for kids
  • 6
    From Spiti to Antarctica: World's most unusual post offices every traveller should visit
  • 10
    Is your child ready for pre-school? These 8 signs can help you decide
  • 11
    10 countries where it is safe to drink tap water while travelling
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Parenting
  • /
  • Early Childhood
  • /
  • Here's how you can tell if you are a helicopter parent
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © Jun 4, 2026, 08.55PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service