What’s Your Take on ‘Helicopter Parenting’?

As parents, it’s often hard to nail that balance between protecting your children and allowing them independence. As eloquently detailed in this New York Times article, a Silicon Valley father’s actions – converting his backyard into an unsupervised adventure park – caused a stir in his neighbourhood, and in the wider parenting community.

Take five and give it a read.

Naturally, there are perfectly reasonable viewpoints – and risks – on both sides. I, for one, favour my girls having a ‘free-range’ childhood, allowing them to play in the backyard or local park while I’m close by but otherwise occupied, and I encourage them to fix their own drinks or snacks, but I’m equally mindful that it can be a big, bad world out there.

What’s your take on ‘helicopter parenting’?