There is no distinctly clear overprotective parents statistics. Studies or surveys conducted seldom reveal facts about parenting approaches. Parents don’t reveal their approach accurately and kids don’t always offer lucid responses. As a result, it is difficult to assimilate or compile any overprotective parents statistics. But it should be fair and it will suffice to state that a majority of parents are overprotective. Some are overly expressive about their approach and some are mildly overprotective. It is natural for parents to be overprotective but it is an unwise move. Several studies have revealed the adverse effects that overprotection has on kids.
1. The first reason why overprotection is not ideal is because it prepares the grounds for kids to become less responsible or irresponsible. When kids are left on their own, when they are allowed to make small or harmless choices during their early years, a sense of responsibility is naturally developed. When kids have to rely entirely on their parents, which is a fallout of overprotection, they do not develop any sense of responsibility. Thus, they are more vulnerable to rash choices. Kids with overprotective parents are likely to indulge in experiments of various kinds. They do so to test the boundaries or limits of their parents’ overprotection. Also, they are not entirely aware of what is wrong and what is right because they have been guided throughout their growing up years.
2. Kids having overprotective parents also develop low self esteem. They are always shielded away from most challenges and the lack of confidence is an obvious aftermath. Shy kids often have overprotective parents, so do kids who are unsure of their potential and who are unwilling to face the world. To hone confidence or self esteem, kids must be allowed to make mistakes and be able to learn from their wrong choices.
3. Overprotective parents tend to develop an illusion of control because there is no way of exercising absolute control over their kids’ lives. Kids will start to discover their worlds and when they do stay away from the physical outreach of their parents, they are likely to indulge in activities which otherwise the kids would not have been interested in. It is a classic case of doing what one has learned to be a taboo. Kids with frank parents who grant them the luxury of reasonable freedom are more likely to exercise caution when they are beyond the outreach of their parents.