Overbearing Parents “Smothering” Their Children

Claire Perry, Childhood Advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, claimed last week that children were suffering due to the overbearing nature of their parents. The advisor claimed that when the children subsequently left the family home, they were unable to look after themselves.

Perry further commented that mothers often mollycoddled their children as their own careers would suffer following starting a family: "A lot of it is women who, because it is difficult to get on, subjugate their own ambition into their kids. That makes it harder when they get to university and realise they haven't got a mother to help them with their homework, watching their every move.”

The comments have come a few weeks after research has been released by University of Mary Washington in the U.S. which claimed that children from overbearing parents are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety. The study also found that children from parents who were too involved in their children's lives were less capable of coping on their own and would feel less competent.

The defintion of overbearing parents - Everybody Loves Raymond

The report concluded that parents should be wary of “helicopter parenting”, or parents who hover over aspect of their child’s lives. Lead researcher Holly Schiffrin stated: “Parents should keep in mind how developmentally appropriate their involvement is, and learn to adjust their parenting style when their children feel that they are hovering too closely.”

Ms. Perry told “The Times”: "We worship this feminine motherhood thing and I don't think our children have benefited actually. Good parenting isn't just about making sure they come top in maths but all the difficult stuff too.”