5 ways being an overprotective parent can affect your child

There is no wrong in trying to protect your child from dangers, to keep them safe and provide them with all the love and affection in the world.

That’s what all parents do. However, there is a very thin line between being protective and being overprotective.

It all comes down to your actions and how you manage (micromanage) your child.

Some of the signs of overprotective parenting include cleaning up your child’s mess, taking over their projects, making their problem yours, overlooking their mistakes, leaving no room for failure and shielding them from every danger.

When your child is exposed to certain challenges, it gives them the opportunity to learn problem-solving strategies. In their attempt to overcome the problems, they self-teach themselves to cope with different situations. But if you’re an overprotective parent, you might not allow them to get that kind of exposure, which hampers their coping skills. Because they’re so well-guarded and shielded, they become dependent on their parents, which in turn limits their growth.

One of the side effects of being an overprotective parent is that you go on to raise a child who is low in confidence and self-esteem. This is because children of overprotective parents hardly get to taste failure. Their parents are always there to clear up their mess, which is why they do not get to make mistakes and so are fearful of making mistakes or failing. This limits them from exploring opportunities. They’re never up for any adventure or challenge and become less competent.

Kids of overprotective parents can also be indecisive, meaning they find it difficult to determine what they want. This is mainly because most of the time, their parents are the sole decision-makers. They’re the ones who make the choices for them and because they’re so dependent on them, they have no other alternative than to adhere to them.

Overprotective parents often pass on their own stress and worries to their children. Because of their own perception of reality, which is usually clouded with dangers, they tend to become over-careful and protective. Children can sense this level of anxiety and over time, can become so used to it that they themselves begin displaying symptoms of anxiety. Additionally, parents often tend to give their children the impression that the world is dangerous, which is why children tend to develop an avoidant behavior and distance themselves from social situations.

One of the worst traits of children of overprotective parents is that they develop narcissistic or arrogant behavior. They’re so protected, well-guarded and receive so much help from their parents that they tend to take everything for granted. Children may even fail to see their entitlement and privilege, blinding them to the real problems of the world.