
Don’t Over Manage Your Kids
by Teresa, The CuteKid™ Staff
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In today’s world many parents manage every part of their
child’s lives. The new term “helicopter parents” has been coined
for parents who are so involved in their children’s lives. For
helicopter parents, their child is the center of their life. Everything
revolves around the wellbeing of their child. If their child forgets their
homework they rush it to school. If a coach doesn’t let their son play as
long as someone else they let the coach know it is unacceptable. Helicopter
parents are constantly trying to protect their child from anything that
could be potentially hazardous or possibly a learning experience.
Children whose parents are constantly hovering over them never learn to
take responsibility for themselves. In the adult world there is no one to
make an excuse for you if you are late for work. There is no one to bring
you an important paper if you happen to forget it. Children need to learn
these lessons in order to help them survive in the real world.
Children need to learn that there are natural consequences for
their behavior. If they forget their homework then they don’t get as
good a grade. If they forget their lunch then they can be hungry until
they get home from school. If they pick on a child at school then they
should miss recess or whatever punishment the school gives. Children
should not always expect to be rescued. That is not real life.
As parents we do need to protect our children from making decisions
that will hurt them or that are immoral. But that doesn’t mean we stop
them from making other decisions that could turn out badly for them. Children
need to learn how to fail and then pick themselves back up and try again.
For children in the modeling or acting world parents need to take even more
caution that they don’t over manage their child. Recently my husband was telling
me about a radio show that he listened to. The show was discussing how many
child stars are managed by their own parents. Unfortunately some of these child
stars are the victims of “momagers” or dadagers” who become more concerned about
dollar signs than the well-being of their children. Take for example Macaulay
Culkin, who for years slept on the couch because he didn’t even have his own room.
Then when he was old enough he had to sue his dad for the money that he had earned.
As a teenager, Jessica Simpson’s father pushed her to wear skimpy clothing to show
off her chest. Country singer Leann Rimes has had a rocky relationship with her
over-managing parents as well.
As you are taking your child to auditions make sure that it is something that they
like to do and not just what you want them to do. After all, all the money and fame
in the world is worth nothing if you lose your relationship with your child.
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