Am I a helicopter parent? The science of overparenting.

In this Episode

In today’s episode, we dive into the science of overparenting and explore what research says about its impact on children’s mental health. I break down a recent meta-analysis that shows how overparenting is linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and emotional struggles in kids and young adults. We also explore Self-Determination Theory—the idea that kids need autonomy, competence, and connection to thrive—and how overparenting can unintentionally block these critical needs.

I’ll help you reflect on what overparenting might look like at home, with real-life examples for younger and older kids. Tune in to find out if you might be leaning into helicopter parenting and how you can support your child’s independence, resilience, and confidence instead.

Source:

Overparenting and offspring depression, anxiety, and internalizing symptoms: A meta-analysis

Are You Overparenting? What the Science Says About Its Impact on Kids’ Mental Health

About This Week's Guest

Cindy Hovington is the host of the Reflective Parenting Podcast and the Founder of Curious Neuron. She has a doctorate in neuroscience and she is a mom of 3 from Montreal, Canada. Her mission is to support parental well-being by teaching them how to regulate their emotions and by helping them model healthy coping skills for their children. Emotion regulation skills are such important skills and influence our mental health and well-being. You can learn more by visiting curiousneuron.com, following Curious Neuron on Instagram or Facebook, or following on YouTube. Cindy is an international keynote speaker on parental well-being and emotional health (in parents and children).