isn't a bit of 'benign' neglect' a better parenting approach than helicopter parenting ?

[calopene]

.....By that I meaning giving kids a bit of responsability to do their own thing , helping them put up withand develop a bit of resilience to situations which are difficult/ uncomfortable. Also exposingthem to a bit of problem solving etc. Kids thrive when not cossetted/controlled and 'protected' to within an inch of their lives.

[hardboiledpossum]

MrsOak I would say i am the same as you in that sense. I have never really stopped ds from climbing and exploring his environment. Maybe i am not such a helicopter parent after all!

[lisylisylou]

Interesting thread. Just been focusing on this for past 2-3 weeks. I have to admit I've been helicopter parenting my ds (9) but his head is everywhere and cannot concentrate on 1 thing at a time! It's been an absolute struggle trying to get him out of bed, to get ready for school etc. usually, i beg, scream and plead for him to get ready! so I've brought his bedtime earlier in the night and left him alone to get ready in the morning for the first time but just counting down how long he had left but he did it with 3 minutes to spare but he did it hey? Tonight he wanted a snack, looked in the cupboard for a snack, I said we haven't got anything. He then got out the bread, cheese, cheese grater and went and made a sandwich. My dd who is 7 just gets on with things and just has that focus to crack on so I don't need to worry as such with her. We're very lucky we live on a quiet estate so I let them play out and they are both independent in that respect. I think a lot of it depends on the personality of the child!

[mrsshackleton]

at dc1's (8) school, homework is given, which is usually far beyond the reach of the children. There is no way they could do it without adult input.

It drives me (and other parents) nuts. I insist on marking all homework I've helped with. DD is OK with this, but other children beg their parents not to as they think they'll get in trouble with the teachers.

It's ridiculous and I am going to have words at parents' evening.