Helicopter Parenting is Stunting Your Child’s Well Being!

Being a parent is never simple. You have an innate need to protect your kids from harm, whether it comes from inside the house or outside in the wide world. You and your partner make every effort to ensure the safety, prosperity, and happiness of your children. But how can we defend them against external threats? What steps can you and your spouse take to protect your child from harm?

Studies reveal that 75% of British kids spend less time outside than kids incarcerated, and 5% of kids surveyed said they never play outside on a typical day.

An alarmingly continued rise in obesity

There have been worries that young children’s active lifestyles and lack of exercise are contributing to the ongoing rise in obesity. Less than one-third of British youngsters receive the required amount of exercise, and nearly one in five primary school graduates are classified as obese.

Growing reliance on digital media

This is due to a multitude of factors. One aspect contributing to this is the growing reliance on digital media, with a plethora of immersive video games, on-demand movies, hundreds of television channels, and more competing for children’s attention.

Safety concerns

The anxieties of parents are another important aspect. Adults may find it extremely difficult to have faith that their children will be safe and happy if they are permitted to play outside with friends due to safety worries.

It’s challenging to criticize a parent, though, who forbids their child from leaving their side to see the world. Roughly fifty children under the age of sixteen are abducted by strangers every year, according to estimates from the nonprofit Action Against Adduction. Even if three-quarters of the reported abduction attempts were actually unsuccessful, there is no doubt that a child might suffer greatly emotionally from such a situation.

The curse of nervous upbringings

Give your spouse some leeway if you feel that she occasionally verges on being neurotic about your child’s safety. It’s understandable to be concerned about your kids and want to do all in your power to keep them safe, especially in light of the high number of abduction attempts. When you consider the additional threats of gang violence, shootings, terrorism, knife crime, and reckless drivers, it makes only sense that more kids are staying indoors.

Four out of ten British parents also think their kids are afraid of terrorist attacks, while 25% of parents have acknowledged that worry their kids are nervous about the changes brought about by Brexit. Families and small children were the focus of the horrific 2017 Manchester bombing at an Ariana Grande performance, which naturally made many teens and preteens worry about their safety at future events.

Additionally, studies reveal that 13% of parents believe their kids shun public transportation out of concern for their safety, and 8% say their kids had nightmares as a result of upsetting news reports.

Unhealthy engagement with the smartphones

Today’s kids have greater access than ever to news from around the globe. It used to be up to families to decide whether to watch the news with their child around or not, or not to leave newspapers accessible, but times have changed drastically. The majority of kids, including a startling 25% of those six years old and younger, own smartphones. Of them, half of them use them for more than 20 hours a week.

All youngsters have access to the world through their smartphones when they are linked to the Internet, be it via Wi-Fi or mobile data. Of course, there are a ton of advantages to this, but regrettably, it also exposes children to pornographic content, violent real-world photos, and frightening news articles.

Facing parental fears safely

However, not all kids are too scared to play outside, and not all parents are too worried about the risks to allow their kids some autonomy and freedom. Driving in public areas and residential areas frequently entails seeing children, whether or not they are accompanied by parents.

Don’t allow your paranoia to exacerbate your child’s doubts.

Of course, parenting philosophies differ greatly. Some people feed their child’s uncertainties with their own paranoia and fear of the outside world, making the child too afraid to go outside. There are other parents that don’t give a damn and let their kids act however they choose without providing the necessary direction.

Developmental problems might arise when parents smother their children and make them feel unsafe. The so-called “helicopter parents” run the risk of preventing their kids from experiencing the sense of success that comes from conquering obstacles or taking calculated risks, which could impede their development into competent individuals prepared to face the world.

Determining the right level of supervision and guidance is difficult. No parent wants their child to wander innocently into dangerous circumstances or live in constant fear of things that might never happen to them. It’s one thing to teach kids right from wrong and when to flee, but it’s quite another to put our trust in them to take care of themselves.

Thankfully, modern technology allows parents to keep an eye on their kids’ whereabouts and activities when they’re outside without physically being there.

GPS tracking technology is a contemporary remedy.

Numerous varieties of GPS tracking technology are available. Most people have navigation apps on their phones, which they use to find restaurants in new places or while driving. For a considerable amount of time, GPS units have been standard in automobiles and trucks. But, those aimed at worried parents are offered as wearable technology and downloadable apps, so you can select the one that best suits your requirements.

Wearable child GPS tracking gadgets, such a watch, bracelet, or clip-on item, allow kids to have the independence they desire without feeling totally cut off from their parents. On a matching map, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and other caregivers can all follow the child’s activities. They will be able to remain vigilant about any problems, including the child straying too far from home, thanks to certain features. Every gadget has its unique features.

Modern GPS monitoring devices, for instance, allow parents and kids to talk without a phone, and some even have a panic button the kids may touch in case they think they might need assistance.

Use technology to your advantage for mental well-being

Relationships between parents and children benefit greatly from this technology in many different ways. For their own piece of mind, kids who don’t feel quite ready to venture outside and explore without their parents can utilize monitoring devices to know they’re still being observed. If a person wants greater independence but their parents won’t let them, they can make sure they stay under the care of their caregivers without feeling constrained.

In conclusion, try to create a compromise that works for both the parent and the child.

You and your partner must balance teaching your kids and giving them the tools they need to make their own decisions with understanding when to take away their freedom to go to a particular location at a particular time. GPS tracking technology ensures that a parent and child are never too far apart and helps to find a comfortable medium ground for both. These gadgets can help parents build strong bonds with their children and give worried kids the self-assurance they need to confront the world head-on.