Are You an Overprotective Parent?

Do you try to protect your child from both physical and emotional pain? Do you try to shield them from sadness and disappointment? Do you try to prevent them from making mistakes or taking risks? Do you do their homework or projects for them? When your child has an argument with a friend, do you call the friend’s parents to resolve it? If you do, you’re probably an overprotective parent. You no doubt have compassionate, good intentions. You don’t want your child to struggle or to get hurt. You want to help and support them. You want them to feel loved and cared for (and you assume that protecting them is the best — or the only — way). Maybe you don’t even realize you’re being overprotective. But overprotective parenting is problematic. It “discourages children from being responsible and encourages dependence,” said Lauren Feiden, Psy.D, a child clinical psychologist certified in parent-child interaction therapy who works with children, adolescents and their families on the upper east side of Manhattan. It also limits their exposure to experiences that are essential for navigating the world, she said. Kids who are shielded from the downs of life have a difficult time with negative feelings when they become adults, said Liz Morrison, LCSW, a therapist who specializes in working with children and families in New York City. Kids of overprotective parents learn that they can’t manage or solve their own problems, Feiden said. “[T]hey become reliant...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Family General Parenting Self-Esteem Self-Help anxiety Child Development Coping Skills kids Lauren Feiden life skills Liz Morrison Negative Emotions overprotective parent overprotective parenting Parentin Source Type: blogs