¶ … Overprotective Parenting As teenagers, children are very dependent on their parents. They rely on parents for food and shelter, for transportation, for financial support, and so on. However, parents often take their responsibilities too far, and their concern for the child's welfare and desire to be good parents may cause them to stifle the child's growth. This kind of parenting is known as overprotective parenting.

In ideal situations, parents allow for a gradual progression of independence. Discipline, rules, standards and expectations are applied in direct ratio to age. In younger years, children need a great deal of guidance and control in order to prevent serious and harmful mistakes from being made. But as they grow in maturity and experience, they are capable of making more choices for themselves. They can begin to deal with the consequences of their mistakes.

This research paper aims to take an in-depth look at the causes and consequences of overprotective parenting, and create a possible solution for the problem of overprotective parents.

Introduction:

Children are so small and delicate when they are born that parents cannot help but feel protective of their little bundles of joy. Because they brought the child into the world, they feel that they must look out for him or her. This is a natural and healthy response to a new baby.

However, as the child grows, so does their need for independence. This is where the role of a parent gets tricky. Many parents take their guardian roles too far. They have the best intentions, in most cases, as they aim to shield their children from harm. However, they smother their child, preventing them from fulfilling their needs for freedom and growing up.

Overprotective parents often do not understand that a big part of parenting is preparing their children to live independently in the real world. By finding a healthy balance between their desire to protect and their children's need for independence, a parent is giving their child necessary survival skills. If this does not happen, children may become emotionally dependent or rebellious, depending on individual circumstances.

Why are parents overprotective and how does it damage their children? Is there a way to help overprotective parents before it is too late? This research paper will examine the problem of overprotective parenting and present a clear solution.

Methods

Various studies and books have discussed the problem of overprotective parenting, showing how parents can irreversibly damage their children by smothering them. This research paper will dig into the findings of various psychologists, social workers, and other experts to uncover the causes and outcomes of overprotective parenting. These findings will lead to a solution for the problem.

Results

It is important that parents, who want their children to grow up as independent, confident adults, steer clear of overprotective parenting. Often, an overprotective attitude is ridiculously protective and inhibiting and can be prevented. This research paper will show that other methods of parenting are far more affective and healthy than overprotective parenting.

Assignment #2 -- Bibliography

Crick, N.R. Relational Aggression: The Role of Intent Attributions, Feelings of Distress, and Provocation Type. Development and Psychopathology. 1995.

Fay, Jim. Parenting Teens With Love & Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood. Navpress. 1993.

Espurva, David. The Complete Guide to Overprotective Parenting. Hansson, 2000.

Foster, W Cline. Parenting With Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility. Navpress, 1993.

Hayes, Kent. Why Good Parents Have Bad Kids: How to Make Sure That Your Child Grows Up Right. Doubleday. 1989.

Oden, S. The Development of Social Competence in Children. National Center for Research on Teacher Learning. 1987.

Steinberg, L. Cognitive Transitions in Adolescence (pp 62-98). McGraw-Hill. 1996.

Webb, Margot. Coping with Overprotective Parents. Rosen Publishing Group. 1990.

Overprotective Parenting, Trinity Counseling Services, 2001: http://www.trinitycounseling.org/articles/overprotective.html.

Harsh parenting linked to lack of empathy in children. Rueter's Health. July 17, 2001.

Assignment #3 -- Formal Outline

Outcomes of Overprotective Parenting

Thesis statement: As teenagers, children are very dependent on their parents. They rely on parents for food and shelter, for transportation, for financial support, and so on. However, parents often take their responsibilities too far, and their concern for the child's welfare and desire to be good parents may cause them to stifle the child's growth. This kind of parenting is known as overprotective parenting.

In ideal situations, parents allow for a gradual progression of independence. Discipline, rules, standards and expectations are applied in direct ratio to age. In younger years, children need a great deal of guidance and control in order to prevent serious and harmful mistakes from being made. But as they grow in maturity and experience, they are capable of making more choices for themselves. They can begin to deal with the consequences...

Conclusion
Assignment #4 -- Thesis Statement

As teenagers, children are very dependent on their parents. They rely on parents for food and shelter, for transportation, for financial support, and so on. However, parents often take their responsibilities too far, and their concern for the child's welfare and desire to be good parents may cause them to stifle the child's growth. This kind of parenting is known as overprotective parenting.

In ideal situations, parents allow for a gradual progression of independence. Discipline, rules, standards and expectations are applied in direct ratio to age. In younger years, children need a great deal of guidance and control in order to prevent serious and harmful mistakes from being made. But as they grow in maturity and experience, they are capable of making more choices for themselves. They can begin to deal with the consequences of their mistakes.

The parent who tries to protect the child totally from this process can harm the child. Overprotective parenting creates children who are incapable of making decisions and exercising responsibility. In addition, parents who are unable to give their children freedom may make it impossible for their children ever to feel genuine affection or appreciation for them.

Paragraph from Body

Parents also know, from their own experiences, how easy it is to make wrong decisions. For every right direction to take, there is at least one wrong direction, and possible many more. (Steinberg, 1996) They probably have made bad choices throughout their lives, and have seen their friends made bad decisions. They want the best for their children and feel that they are responsible for making sure their children don't make the mistakes that they did.

Assignment #5 -- Bibliography

Crick, N.R. Relational Aggression: The Role of Intent Attributions, Feelings of Distress, and Provocation Type. Development and Psychopathology. 1995.

Fay, Jim. Parenting Teens With Love & Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood. Navpress. 1993.

Espurva, David. The Complete Guide to Overprotective Parenting. Hansson, 2000.

Foster, W Cline. Parenting With Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility. Navpress, 1993.

Hayes, Kent. Why Good Parents Have Bad Kids: How to Make Sure That Your Child Grows Up Right. Doubleday. 1989.

Oden, S. The Development of Social Competence in Children. National Center for Research on Teacher Learning. 1987.

Steinberg, L. Cognitive Transitions in Adolescence (pp 62-98). McGraw-Hill. 1996.

Webb, Margot. Coping with Overprotective Parents. Rosen Publishing Group. 1990.

Overprotective Parenting, Trinity Counseling Services, 2001: http://www.trinitycounseling.org/articles/overprotective.html.

Harsh parenting linked to lack of empathy in children. Rueter's Health. July 17, 2001.

Assignment #6 -- Revised Paragraphs

Unfortunately, in most cases, the more overprotective parents are, the more rebellious their children will be. They are likely to go against the rules that were set before they matured, seeing these rules are constraining and smothering. Many adults do not realize that refusing to let go of their children and give them freedom will most likely hurt them when they leave home.

When teenagers with extremely overprotective parents leave home for the first time, the freedom of college or living alone may be very difficult to bear. There is no one to monitor or check up on them, as they have become dependent on. There is a lack of feeling of family and, for overprotected kids, this can make them feel lonely or incompetent. Teenagers, especially girls, with overprotective parents may become promiscuous because they were not allowed to mature properly and make their own choices.

Overprotective parents should understand that a big part of parenting is preparing their children to live independently in the real world. By finding a healthy balance between their desire to protect and their children's need for independence, a parent is giving their child the best gift there is - survival skills.

Assignment #6 -- Complete Research Paper

Introduction and Statement of the Problem

As teenagers, children are very dependent on their parents. They rely on parents for food and shelter, for transportation, for financial support, and so on. However, parents often take their responsibilities too far, and their concern for the child's welfare and desire to be good parents may cause them to stifle the child's growth. This kind of parenting is known as overprotective parenting.

In ideal situations, parents allow for a gradual progression of independence. Discipline, rules, standards and expectations are applied in direct ratio to age. In younger years, children need a great deal of guidance and control in order to prevent serious and harmful mistakes from being…