helicopter parenting

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a style of child rearing in which an overprotective mother or father discourages a child's independence by being too involved in the child's life.

   In typical helicopter parenting, a mother or father swoops in at any sign of challenge or discomfort.

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Other Word Forms

• helicopter dad
  noun
• helicopter father
  noun
• helicopter mom
  noun
• helicopter mother
  noun
• helicopter parent
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of helicopter parenting

First recorded in 1985–90; so called because such a parent “hovers” like a helicopter

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

helicopter parenting

Parents today are confronted by parenting styles including "helicopter parenting", which is focused on closely monitoring and protecting children from harm, and "tiger parenting", which involves strict parenting and high expectations for achievement.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

You might see it as a form of helicopter parenting for adult children who frankly need “helicoptering.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 19, 2026

She criticizes helicopter parenting, decries remote work and tells women they should be willing to “piss people off” in order to be good leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

For instance, in Season 2, we see Ellie trying to establish her independence and get away from Joel’s helicopter parenting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2025

In “The Coddling of the American Mind,” Haidt took a hard stand against helicopter parenting.

From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024

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