How Does Snowplow Parenting Affect Children?
Snowplow parenting can have serious effects on children’s development. Some parents may not be aware of their tendency to engage in this style of parenting. They may be acting out of a desire to protect their children from challenges they themselves experienced as children, but the result can be counterproductive and keep children from developing problem-solving skills and resilience. Keep reading to learn about snowplow parenting, how it can affect children, and how parents can get help to improve their parenting style.
What is snowplow parenting?
Snowplow parenting, which is similar to lawnmower parenting, bulldozer parenting, or helicopter parenting, refers to a parenting style in which a parent strives to remove all obstacles from a child’s path. For example, snowplow parents may intervene in challenges their children face at school. They may attempt to solve academic challenges by talking to a child’s teachers, sometimes without their child’s knowledge. They may also intervene on their child’s behalf in extracurricular activities by putting pressure on coaches or other parents.
How can the snowplow parenting style affect children?
When a snowplow parent removes challenges or obstacles, their children may lose opportunities to gain critical life skills. Overprotective parenting can affect childhood development by not allowing children to speak up for themselves and develop coping skills to deal with hardship.
Possible reasons why snowplow parenting is common
Some researchers believe that snowplow parenting is common nowadays as a result of anxiety. With the 24-hour news cycle, many parents are constantly exposed to the news, much of which is negative. Also, parents in the digital age typically worry about what their children are exposed to online. This may lead some parents to try to anticipate any obstacles that might arise in their child’s path and intervene on their behalf.
Strategies for a snowplow parent do to improve their parenting
Snowplow parents might first recognize that no parent is perfect. Most parents can be overprotective out of concern from time to time. To improve their parenting skills, snowplow parents might consider implementing the following strategies:
Allow a child more space
A snowplow parent might consider taking small steps to give their child more room to navigate obstacles. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean backing away completely. A parent can still step in if their child is feeling overwhelmed, but a little more space may help develop the child’s ability to deal with frustration effectively. By allowing their child to problem-solve on their own, parents might help them develop grit and resilience, which can serve them well into adulthood.
Reduce anxiety
Snowplow and helicopter parents may also find it helpful to work on reducing their own anxiety. Parents may find it helpful to scale back on their news consumption. The news tends to be negative and can make parents focus on potential things that could happen to their children. Parents who find the news stressful might consider blocking certain news sites on their computer and phone browsers.
To reduce anxiety, snowplow parents might also consider implementing relaxation techniques. These might include mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises. While these exercises might not eliminate all anxiety related to raising children, they may reduce the urge to step in and solve problems for them.
Getting support from a mental health professional
Snowplow parents might also consider speaking with a licensed mental health professional. A licensed therapist may have evidence-based strategies for reducing parental anxiety. They might also offer tips for parents to gradually give their children a little more space to navigate obstacles that come their way.
Online therapy for parents
Some parents might live in a region with few licensed therapists. Others might prefer to speak with a therapist outside their local community. In both of these cases, online therapy may be a viable option for parents. With an online therapy platform, parents can typically meet with a therapist from home or anywhere with an internet connection, via audio, video calls, or live chat. Also, BetterHelp allows parents to reach out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and the therapist will reply as soon as they can. Snowplow parents might find this feature useful if they experience parental stress between therapy sessions.
Over the last decade, numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy, including for anxiety. One study found that online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based practice, was effective for generalized anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, and substance use disorder, among other disorders.
Takeaway
Snowplow parenting refers to a style of parenting that tends to overprotect children from frustration or struggle. This parenting style may affect children’s resilience and ability to overcome obstacles. Parents who have a tendency to engage in snowplow parenting may benefit from incorporating strategies to reduce their own anxiety, which may help them resist the urge to overprotect their children.
If you believe you may be practicing snowplow parenting, know that you are not alone. There is parenting support available from licensed therapists, both in person and online. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a licensed therapist who has experience helping parents reduce their anxiety and implement new parenting strategies. Take the first step toward getting parental support and reach out to BetterHelp today.
How can snowplow parenting affect a child?
Snowplow parenting may lead to poor problem-solving skills in children. The effects of snowplow parenting may also manifest in an adult child if they haven’t developed important life skills like conflict resolution.
What is a good strategy for a snowplow parent to change?
Snowplow parents might find that they can reduce their tendency to intervene in their child’s life by first reducing their own anxiety. A therapist may be able to help parents identify sources of their anxiety and implement strategies to control it. Parents may also benefit from emphasizing long-term goals, such as helping their child learn and grow through challenging experiences.
What is the optimal parenting style called?
The American Psychological Association states that there to be three parenting styles: authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. The authoritative parenting style is often considered to be optimal, as authoritative parents tend to set firm boundaries yet be nurturing toward their children.
What can children do about snowplow parenting?
In some cases, children might be able to reduce snowplow parenting by discussing how it makes them feel. This might not reduce all parental interventions in their lives, but it may help parents understand some of the emotional effects of snowplow parenting. For example, if a parent’s interventions at school make them feel uncomfortable, children and teens might consider expressing this to their parents.
What is jellyfish parenting?
Jellyfish parenting is a term that is sometimes used to describe highly permissive parents. Jellyfish parents often impose few rules or guidelines on their children. The opposite type of parenting is sometimes called “brick wall parenting.” Brick wall parents tend to enforce strict rules on their children, sometimes through bribes or threats. Both jellyfish and brick wall parenting may lead to low self-esteem in children. A middle-ground between these two styles is often called “backbone parenting.” Backbone parents tend to provide unconditional love and encourage children to solve problems autonomously.
What is the difference between a helicopter parent and a snowplow parent?
Some people may use the terms “helicopter parent” and “snowplow parent” interchangeably. However, other people may differentiate between the two. They may describe helicopter parenting as a tendency to hover over a child in case they need help and snowplow parenting as a tendency to move ahead of their child to remove any obstacles before their child encounters them. For example, the snowplow parent of a teenager might take their child’s car for oil changes and intervene with teachers or coaches. Snowplow parenting may not give children and teens the opportunity to experience discomfort and manage challenging situations. Instead of practicing snowplow parenting, parents may benefit from teaching children guidelines for life while giving them distance to make decisions, which may help them develop self-confidence.
What causes snowplow parenting?
Snowplow parenting may have a variety of causes. Some people believe it may be related to anxiety fomented by constant exposure to news and social media. Well-meaning parents might feel anxious and jump ahead to solve their child’s problems, but this can lead to problems with self-sufficiency and decision-making. When a parent intervenes too often, kids may not develop the ability to make and learn from their own decisions.
What is a tiger parenting style?
The tiger parenting style is believed to be coined by Amy Chua. In 2011, she published a book about a parenting style that includes high expectations and strict rules aimed at producing highly successful children. The children of these families tend to succeed in college admissions and in their careers.
What is the healthiest parenting style?
Parenting styles are sometimes broken down into permissive, authoritative, and uninvolved. Of these, the healthiest parenting style may be authoritative, which typically involves being supportive and nurturing while enforcing firm rules. This parenting style may help children develop confidence and manage their own emotions. While this parenting style may be helpful, a family counselor may have more specific advice about different parenting frameworks and ways for parents to prepare their children for the world.
What is the least effective parenting style?
One of the least effective parenting styles may be an uninvolved or neglectful style. In families with this parenting style, children may experience low self-esteem and a desire to seek other role models. Another parenting style that may cause difficulty is the authoritative style. Within this framework, parents tend to serve as authority figures who enforce strict rules. This may have negative effects on children, leading to rebelliousness and difficulty navigating social situations.
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