Transition from protection to overprotection
As parents, it is our natural instinct to protect our children from harm. However, there comes a time when this protection can turn into overprotection.
So when does protection turn into overprotection? It’s when we stop letting our children enjoy the freedom of choice. We become so overly cautious and attentive that we start putting restrictions on our children. We create a strict list of activities that our children can do or who they can spend time with.
This transition can negatively impact child development and destroy the opportunity for our children to grow, learn, and make mistakes on their own.
Importance of freedom for children
Children need freedom to express themselves, follow their dreams and aspirations, and improve themselves and their environment. Freedom promotes boldness, ingenuity, creativity, and helps children develop their skills and talents.
Without freedom, children can feel stifled, boxed in, and unable to fully realize their capabilities. Overprotection takes this freedom away from them, hindering their growth and progress.
The difference between protection and overprotection
Good parenting involves teaching our children necessary life skills and activities, letting them learn from mistakes through experience or trial and error, giving them specific instructions and orders. However, overprotection prevents children from failing and does not let them experience life’s risks and harsh realities.
The outcome of overprotection can create an unhealthy environment where children are unable to deal with potential danger and challenges, leaving them precautious, anxious and unable to handle failure when it arises.
Unhealthy environment created by overprotection
Parents who overly protect their children are not allowing them to take risks and develop the natural resiliency that is needed throughout life. Children become vulnerable to the world’s harsh realities, and every failure can become a potential disaster, leading to feelings of inadequacy and lack of self-esteem.
Overprotection, therefore, creates an unhealthy environment for children that has severe consequences on their social, emotional and intellectual wellbeing.
Signs of overprotection
Knowing the signs of overprotection is the first step in avoiding it. If you’re concerned that you might be overprotecting your child, here are some telltale signs:
Not letting children choose for themselves
Are you constantly making decisions for your child, such as deciding what they wear or eat? Do you find yourself making decisions for them even when it is not necessary?
Allowing children to make choices helps them develop decision-making skills, understand consequences, and learn from them. Anti-talent patterns may arise if children are not given the opportunity to develop these skills.
Doing everything for children
Taking responsibility and completing tasks are key components of becoming a conscientious adult. In overprotective environments, children are not given the space to take responsibility, thus robbing them of opportunities to improve, grow and learn from experience.
Constant fear of their child’s failure
Every parent worries about their child. However, when this fear turns into anxiety and creates excessive worry concerns, then it becomes unhealthy.
Overprotective parents consistently doubt their children’s abilities and chances of success. They are therefore afraid to allow their children to try and take risks, creating a sense of achievement acquired by deception or inability to actively pursue potential success.
Picking their child’s friends
Parents are responsible for their children’s social development and growth, but overprotective parents choose the friends their children keep. This parental control can lead to a lack of diversity and acceptance and could cause children to be more prone to social disconnection and isolation.
Demanding constant reassurance about their child’s whereabouts
Children need their space to grow and understand the world around them. Constantly checking in, wanting to know their every move and whereabouts can show a lack of trust and respect for their personal space and time.
Not letting children digest their own emotions
Children go through a range of emotions during their lifetime. Some of these emotions include sadness, anger, and frustration.
Parents should be there to console and guide their children through these emotions. However, excessive consolation means that children are not given the space to process and digest their own emotions and develop the necessary emotional maturity to handle their emotions later on.
In conclusion, overprotection can have severe consequences on children’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. By understanding the difference between protection and overprotection and knowing the signs of overprotection, parents can allow their children the freedom to develop, learn, and grow within a safe and healthy environment.
Encouraging children to take risks, make choices, take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. In doing so, children become independent, confident, and well-rounded individuals.
Let’s aspire to become that kind of parent. In conclusion, overprotection is a serious problem for the healthy development of children.
Parents must be aware of the signs of overprotection and learn how to strike a balance between protecting and letting their child grow and develop independently. Fostering independence and healthy risk-taking in children is vital to their intellectual, emotional, and social development.
By creating a safe and supportive environment that allows children to make their own choices, learn from their mistakes, and develop their skills and talents, parents can raise confident and resilient individuals who are ready to face the challenges of the world.
