Black Hawk Down? Parents in the affairs of students

I had to post this New York Times article on helicopter parenting at summer camp. Reading about the cell phone hiding, demands made of camp staff, and encouragement of rule breaking helped me recognize where some of our students develop their co-dependence.

Judith Warner followed up on the story, highlighting this parental behavior as affluenza, or the mentality that there are no holds barred in demands for service to supplement status and identity. Warner cites the trend as prevalent among children of economic privilege, and yet I see the tendencies in my work with first-generation, high financial need students. I field calls and email weekly from parents requesting information or seeking exemption from program activities or assignments. My response? Facilitate discussion and decision making...with the student.

Thanks for the information, Mom and/or Dad. I will be happy to discuss this with your student and I'm in my office now...ask them to stop by.

How do you engage with hovering parents on your campus?

Comments

[mehek]

Helicopter parents base their own self-worth on their children success.Parents may have composite reasons for hovering. No matter what the motive is though, the results of doing so are negative for everyone involved. Ask yourselves, did you want your parents hovering over you?
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Mehek

Georgia Treatment Centers

[Debra Sanborn]

Exactly, Mehek. Our job in student affairs then is to diffuse the hovering while allowing students and parents to maintain their identity and self-esteem. Thanks for your comment.