Helicopter Parents

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 2 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,638 in Family, #38,768 overall

When college parents will not let go.

The Akron Beacon Journal 'Helicopter' parents just have to hover when they send kids off to college by By M.S. Enkoji, McClatchy Newspapers, that perked my interest. I did a Google and I got a lot of hits. A person can become a "Helicopter Parent" on the childhood playground. Our sites will be limited to discussions about college students.

Photo Credit: Augsburg College Parent Association website

Here is a suggestion for a landing pad. 

Helicopter parents seem to have a lot of energy to manage their adult students' lives at college.

I bet that college's parent association would appreciate some of that energy. From what I gather from looking at the websites of various college and universities, they would provide a great heliport for them to land on and work, not only for their students, but actually benefit others, too.

You can find them by checking out the college's website or Student Services Department to find out the contact information. Some are connected with the alumni associations. Unfortunately, there are a number of colleges and universities that do not have a parents association of council. Maybe you can help them start one.

Related Terms 

While looking for material to add to this lens, I've started to come across several terms related to "Helicopter Parents" and would like to share them with you.

Blackhawk Moms "These are the ladies (and sometimes men) who attempt to remake the terrain so that it works better for their child to succeed, regardless of the consequences for anyone else." (Posted to Parent to Parent - Timesunion.com Blog - By Jennifer Gish, Staff writer)

Jet-Fighter "This year's term is `jet-fighter,'' when helicopter parents become even more aggressive." (Posted to Parents also receive post-secondary orientation. - By Andrea Sands, Canwest News Service)

Parent Bouncers "The University of Vermont has employed `parent bouncers,' students trained to redirect adults who try to attend their children's sessions." (Posted to Parents also receive post-secondary orientation. - By Andrea Sands, Canwest News Service)

Satellite Parent "I am happy to say that I think that we were not "helicopter" parents (maybe we were "satellite" parents - we kept an eye on the whole thing, but tried not to hover)" (Posted to Helicopter Parenting - Wings and Roots » Blog Archive »)

Snowplow Parents "snowplow parents for trying to clear a path for their kids" (Posted to Parents also receive post-secondary orientation. - By Andrea Sands, Canwest News Service)
snowplow parents for trying to clear a path for their kids

Stealth Bomber Parents Those who hover excessively over their children's lives.

Submarine Parent "My job as a parent is to have fun with my daughters while letting them explore and learn natural consequences." (Posted to Forget the Helicopter Parents. be a Submarine Parent! - Parents Hut)

Trophy Kids "The generation graduating from high school and college now is/are called 'Trophy Kids' and their helicopter parents are still hovering, making sure everything is going well for them." (comment posted to We have gone soft - or lost our perspective - Broncos Forums)

Leave a term. 

I'm sure you've seen some good ones. I would appreciate knowing its source so I can give it proper credit.

submit

Fly off to visit some of the material about college Helicopter Parents 

This list focuses on college parents. Follow the links on the websites and blogs below for a wealth of information about college life.
Helicopter Parents Form New Association
From The Little Planet Daily
News for the Rest of Us
Helicopter Parents Form New Association

Long Beach, CA - The Helicopter United Parents Toward World Oversight (HUPTWO) announced it's first annual meeting and conference schedule today. The association of was formed ...
Warning! Helicopter Parents at 1,000 Feet! -- U.S.News & World Report
Do you hover low to the ground, micromanaging your collegebound kids from a helicopter&...cut...
Borg Blog: Helicopter Parents
This cartoon was prompted by a story out of Ohio University.
Helicopter Parents
My Roommate is driving me crazy!
This has a lot of great links.
Helicopter Parents Reconsidered
Given all the negative attention they receive in the media, you might expect to find swarms of "helicopter parents" at every high school and college campus across the country. These overly involved parents earned that nickname because they hover over their children, swooping in to fight their battles and make their decisions for them.
No escape from 'helicopter parents'
Constant hovering can kick up a cloud of troubles
Overprotective parents - a commentary
Guest commentary on overprotective parents of college students.
Are You a Helicopter Parent? Parents on College Campuses Causing a Stir - Associated Content
Are You a Helicopter Parent?
Parents on College Campuses Causing a Stir
Too Much of...cut...
The Really Long Good-bye: Helicopter Parents in the College Years | BU Today
The ritual was simple 20 years ago: Boston University parents dropped their kids off on mo...cut...
College Parents of America - A national membership association serving current and future ...cut...
College Parents of America: IN DEFENSE OF HELICOPTER PARENTS
How to Lay Low as Helicopter Parents
You may be a Helicopter Parent hovering over your kidult student. Here's some tips to cope.
Helicopter parents Fear & Parenting in Las Vegas
A blog on a personal perspective. The comments are interesting.
Helicopter Parents - Simply Charly Blog
Nice post. Light and informative. I especially like the definition of terms.
Are You a Helicopter Parent? - Enliven Daily
I have seen more than my share of helicopter parents as I have worked professionally in student affairs, taught in elementary and junior high classrooms and been involved in coaching youth sports since I was 14 years old. I have also had my own instances of helicoptering or micromanaging with my own kids, mainly as it pertained to sports.
Going to college - Parenting - Relationships
This is an article from the THE TIMES OF INDIA on how parents can help their teens make the transitions to college a little easier. (Maybe this could be titled "How Not to be a Helicopter Parent."
Parents refusing to let go - The Liberty Lounge Political Forums
This is an interesting tread on Liberty Lounge Forum about Helicopter Parents. There is even a comment:
Helicopter parents ... a term coined for moms and dads who tend to hover over their kids -- isn't just an American thing.

Dennis Black, vice president of student affairs at the University at Buffalo, pointed out they're found in Scandinavia, too, but under a different moniker -- "curling parents."

It's in reference to the sport of curling, where players sweep the ice to remove obstacles in front of the gliding stone. Likewise, curling parents try to remove all the obstacles in the way of their children.

Of course, extreme helicopter parents, who go overboard to make sure no harm comes to their kids, get a special classification -- "Black Hawks," a name taken from the military helicopter.
10 Tip to Help Parents Through the College Admission Process
College Admissions 101: the get-in guide for parents of high school students by local College Admissions Examiner expert, Lauren Starkey.
Colleges study law involving parents
GoUpstate.com | Spartanburg Herald-Journal has an article about how colleges are handling Helicopter Parents. Topics include:
- Are students off on their own while at school?
- Open communication
Within those boundaries, local institutions report that they accommodate and encourage parental involvement as much as possible, particularly if a student is experiencing personal or behavioral problems.
- 'A right to know'
Nowadays, students' grades are posted electronically at most schools, with students logging onto the system with their own personal password.
- Too much?
But when are "helicopter parents" flying too low?
How to Lay Low as Helicopter Parents
Here is some advice from an unlikely source when your college student is settling into the dorm, and you are discovering that letting go is more difficult than you imagined.

Add your own "Helicopter Parent" story 

My daughter went off to Connecticut to attend college. There, she had a classmate whose dad visited quite often - all the way from Alaska.

What's your story?

submit

Quotes about Helicopter Parents 

Occasionally I'll come across an interesting quote and I'll share it with you here. Because of the interest in the topic, I will not restrict it to relating to college students.
  • Helicopter parents take away a child's character and his ability to do things on his own. This type of parenting is backfiring.
    - Lisa Hein, New Parenting author

Add a quote on Helicopter Parents. 

Surely you have one that comes to mind. Pass it on. It does not have to relate to helicopter parents of college students.

submit

Featured Lenses of Related Interest 

Random "Helicopter Parent" Blog Posts from Google 

These are not limited to college helicopter parents

Beware Helicopter Parents | QUEST Community Science Blog - KQED
Time recently had a great article on helicopter parents. These are the parents who hover around their kids, protecting them from any harm. They are undoubtedly doing this to ensure their kids' success in life.
The Key to Understanding Gen Y Employees? Helicopter Parents
Welcome to a generation raised by helicopter parents. Parents who were raised walking alone to school, riding mass transit, trick-or-treating, and selling Girl Scout cookies door to door forbid their kids to do the same. ...
Army complains of too few helicopter parents in Afghanistan
The army top brass has complained that there are too few helicopter parents in operation in Afghanistan. The head of the British Army, speaking at a press conference, said that regular infantry would see 'enormous benefits' from an ...
No more helicopter parents
No more helicopter parents. > Posted by Gretchen Day-Bryant on December 4, 2009 10:27 AM. helicopter.jpg. Because I tend to worry unnecessarily about silly things, I've been worrying lately about whether or not I will be a helicopter ...

Current Avenues to Success Notes 

Here are our most recent posts.

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Avenues to Success 

PARENTS: Here is an Unique Opportunity to Help Your Students
Your student has charted a course for success, but still needs a partner to get there. You are that partner, and here's another way you can help!

Quotes by People on Stamps 

Here is an index of stamps honoring people. Along with the stamp, is a collection of selected quotations by the people on the stamps.

Click here to access an alphabetic index of quote authors . Then click on the name to see the stamp and quotes.

Or click Quotes by People on Stamps to go right to the site.

 

Avenues to Success Emporium is where you find books by and about authors whose quotes were used by Avenues to Success. They are listed alphabetically by author.

College Parents on Amazon 

Letting Go (Fifth Edition): A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years

Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/22/2009) Buy Now

Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/22/2009) Buy Now

I'll Miss You Too: An Off-to-College Guide for Parents and Students

Amazon Price: $10.10 (as of 12/22/2009) Buy Now

My Parents Think I'm in College T-shirt

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 12/22/2009) Buy Now

by TomATS

My name is Tom. Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron, is where my wife and I call home.

I'm promoting Avenues To Success to help college students, their par... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!