Why is Helicopter Parenting becoming more prevalent?
It seems that helicopter parenting is becoming more and more prevalent in colleges around the nation. …show more content…
Self-determination theory describes three innate needs in all human beings, which are necessary for healthy development and functioning according to Deci and Ryan (2008) (as cited in Schiffrin et al., 2014). The first and most important need is that of autonomy, the second is competence, and the third is relatedness to genuinely caring relationships (as cited in Schiffrin et al., 2014). According to Meyer et al. (2005) “When these basic psychological needs are met, a person experiences greater life satisfaction and lower levels of depression (as cited in Schiffrin et al., 2014). It seems parents can benefit their children most by allowing them to fight their own battles and being there metaphorically, for emotional …show more content…
A recent article in Time Magazine (as cited in Simplicio, 2013) examined a new parenting phenomenon referred to as “Attachment Parenting”: the leading proponent, Dr. Bill Sears, “advocates breast feeding on demand and into toddlerhood, not allowing any child to cry without being comforted immediately, and co-sleeping with young children” (Simplicio, 2013). This new take on parenting essentially creates a constant physical bond between children and their parents. Many parents seem to be scared into this style of parenting through claims that “excessive crying over prolonged periods can damage an infant’s brain” (Simplicio, 2013). Although claims like these have been greatly debated among the scientific community, many parents choose to err on the side of caution and act