The 5 People Most Likely to Become a Helicopter Parent

Key points

Overparenting, also called helicoptering, insulates children from challenges they need to grow.

A parent's childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can lead to helicopter behavior.

Parents with anxiety disorders that compromise their decision-making should focus on healing and/or therapy.

Helicopter parents. Lawnmower parents. Cosseting parents. Whatever you call them, they seem to be everywhere these days.

He’s the parent who proudly helps his son take a science project out of the car, bragging to the other parents that he (i.e., the parent) was up all night working on it. She’s the mother who, at an extended family gathering, listens intently to questions Aunt Sally is asking of her darling girl, then answers them before her daughter has a chance to struggle throu