Some people feel that children are overprotected nowadays. They say this leads to negative consequences
Children, today, are cosseted, and this can lead to complications later in life: overprotection, negatively affecting their ability to become independent and handle real-world situations.
One major issue is that excessive protection is preventing juveniles from learning to cope with challenges. When one constantly monitors their wards, in an effort to protect them from discomfort and failures, the latter miss out on valuable life lessons. For example, a child who is never allowed to make mistakes may grow up scared of taking risks, and unable, to manage stress. Such young individuals are often seen lacking confidence and problem-solving skills, something essential for a successful adulthood.
Moreover, helicopter parenting can delay the development of certain critical traits: fostering independent perspective that assists in broadening the horizons. When someone is closely followed by their elders in formative years, they tend to start relying on the experiences of others, rarely seeing the things from their own point of view, impeding their ability to become creative and resourceful. To corroborate,several studies by human behaviorists have shown that those allowed some unregulated room that sans overprotective approach, tend to become innovative and more mature, by virtue of learning things as per their convenience.
However, those supporting such an arrangement suggest that this kind of child rearing is helping people, especially those surviving in nuclear family settings, to safeguard their progeny from risks the outer world poses on young minds: cyberbullying and criminals. This system has come in handy in times when crimes against unattended juveniles is on the rise.
In conclusion, while protecting children is natural and often necessary, doing it excessively can limit their personal growth. A balanced approach, wherein children are guided but also allowed to make choices, take risks, and learn from debacles.
Children need guidance and boundaries to stay safe. However, the problem arises when this becomes controlling or constant. Instead of removing all risks, adults should teach children how to handle them in age-appropriate ways.
