Do you hover over your teen? Five tips for a helicopter parent

Do you find yourself obsessing over the details of your teen’s life? Do you micro manage every part of their day? You may, unbeknownst to you, be a helicopter parent! As parents, sometimes our first reaction is to get super involved in every minutiae of our teen’s lives, especially if they’re hanging out with a bad crowd or beginning to isolate themselves from us. That’s not always the best thing for them.

Stepping back

Instead of hovering over your teen at every moment possible (as a helicopter parent does), step back and let them take the reigns of their own life. You may think this is dangerous, especially if they’re getting into trouble a lot, but it’s important for you to not overstep your boundaries. It’s important for your teen to learn from their own experiences. Don’t be afraid for them to screw up, it’s what teens do!

Don’t be a nagger

Your teens aren’t little kids anymore. They should be responsible for doing their homework, going to bed on time, and practicing whatever extracurriculars they are a part of. Of course you can gently remind them from time to time, but being a helicopter parent will not help your teen develop the life skills they’ll need later in life.

Don’t do their chores for them

As your teen’s parent, it’s your responsibility to teach them skills that will stay with them for their entire life. Teach them organization by making them keep a calendar of upcoming events and homework assignment that is placed in a prominent public space in your house. Don’t keep track of their things for them. Also, don’t make their bed or do their laundry. These are skills they need to learn at some point in their lives, why not now?

Make time for yourself

Even if it’s just ten minutes every day, it’s important to stop worrying about your child and relax. Have a cup of coffee, catch your favorite TV show, and get out of helicopter parent mode.

Spend time together as a family

To stop being a helicopter parent doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with your teen. In fact, you can improve your relationship by setting aside a couple of nights a week for something fun. For example, every Saturday night can be family movie night or once a week you can have a fun themed dinner. This will help you get close to your teen without being a helicopter parent.

Trails Carolina can help

Sometimes a parent becomes a helicopter parent because their teen has fallen into hard times. If your teen is struggling with an emotional or behavioral difficulty such as depression, defiance issues, or anxiety, consider Trails Carolina wilderness therapy. For more information about Trails Carolina, please call 800-975-7303.