Helicopter Parents vs Free Rangers

[GoFride]

My brothers and I were raised by relaxed, confident parents who would tell us to "go outside, find something to do, and don't come back until dinnertime". We had fantastic adventures, got into a few typical minor scrapes, and made friends with kids we never would have met any other way. We had a happy, healthy, fun childhood.
Parenting styles have changed so much since then. It's very common to see parents schedule, supervise, monitor, "enrich" and micromanage almost every hour, every day of their children's lives. I don't understand why this happened. The world we live in didn't become more dangerous. The crime rate now is a lot lower, according to police and FBI statistics. The kids didn't become more stupid from one generation to the next.
What seems to have changed is the way we react. We are "pre-terrified" of all sorts of things. I've met parents who act like they truly believe that their children are in mortal danger all the time. I've also met parents who believe their children should never have to deal with any sort of failure or (gasp!) disappointment. I've heard of parents who continue this over-involvement when their kids go to college or to job interviews.
The thing is, I've worked for overly involved, micromanaging bosses who treated me the way helicopter parents treat their children. These were without a doubt the worst nightmare bosses to work for. Why would anyone raise their children using that same meddling, "crazy-making" management style? Why has this behavior become so common in the U.S?

[txcoker]

Funny you write this I was having a discussion at my office today about this. We encourage our kids to go out explore and learn on there own and also learn from us and others. We set certain expectations and limits and hold each one accountable for there own actions. If they fail at something we talk it over and make it a learning experience, not a negative. I believe to feel true success you must know how failure feels, it also makes you appreciate your success more.

Oh we also teach them that life is not fair and never will be so don't let someone tell you "that's not fair".

[CatandDiallo]

I love how I grew up. We were outside 24/7, didn't have a computer, Internet wasn't even a thing until I was a teen and even then it was dial up, I got my first cell at 17 and everything was awesome.

I feel bad for kids now.

[Archimedes]

I feel like parents nowadays are always focused on the Next Big Thing: preparing kids for adulthood, college, the work force, and starting a family. Kids hardly have time to be kids anymore. The education system here doesn't help, either. I understand standardized testing, to keep track of how a school district does as a whole compared to the rest of the country. But the new methods of standardized teaching?? complete bullcrap. It makes me think of that political comic, where darwin tells a bunch of different animals to climb a tree, and only the one monkey is equipped to do it.

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[Tat2Guy]

When I was younger we lived in a rural area of Pennsylvania. I could go out and ride my bike, or do whatever I pleased as long as my parents knew where I was. Now that I have kids I live in the Inner City of Indianapolis, in a pretty "ghetto" area. If my kids go outside its under my supervision. We have too many bums, theives, and god knows what else in this area. If I lived in an area similar to where I used to live I wouldn't have a problem letting them roam. Well.. To a limit... They are only 5 and 2. But once my daughter starts to make friends at school I will probably loosen the reigns.

[OctagonGecko729]

Free play in nature is very important for kids, even more so boys. That said though, I'm ultra protective, I'm well aware that the world outside of the family is much less dangerous then people are led to believe due to media fearmongering but it is still not a risk I'm willing to take.

I think hovering should be done to keep kids safe but that the distance needs to increase as the child grows. With the ending being no hovering as they get into their young adult life.

[C.A.Goalie]

I hope I am not going to be a helicopter parent. I was raised in the 70s and 80s and things were very different then. You played with the kids in your neighborhood and went to each others houses without fear (my parents had to have at least met theirs first). I do want to let her know failure and heartache because that is how you grow. My big worry is that I am a worrier and can pretty much say that I am going to worry more now than ever.