‘Helicopter parenting robs kids of a normal childhood’

January 23, 2026 - 17:04

A growing chorus of experts argues that well-intentioned overparenting is creating a generation ill-equipped to handle life's normal stresses. Commentator Lenore Skenazy, a prominent voice on this issue, contends that by shielding children from every conceivable risk and disappointment, parents are inadvertently robbing them of the essential experiences that build resilience.

Skenazy suggests that Generation Z's overwhelming feelings of anxiety are, in part, a direct result of being denied a normal, unsupervised childhood. The constant adult supervision, the pre-emption of all problems, and the removal of unstructured play prevent young people from developing critical coping skills. They miss out on the small, manageable risks—like walking to a park alone or resolving a dispute without adult intervention—that teach confidence and self-reliance.

When children are never allowed to fall, they never learn how to get back up. This creates young adults who enter the world feeling overwhelmed by ordinary challenges, having internalized the message that they cannot navigate life without direct parental guidance. The paradox, Skenazy emphasizes, is that in striving to create a perfect, safe childhood, parents may be setting the stage for an adulthood filled with anxiety and self-doubt. The solution lies in trusting children with age-appropriate freedoms, allowing them the space to grow into capable, independent individuals.