Oh, I don't know. Boomers definitely did the helicopter thing with their Y kids (which really did hurt them coming into adulthood). But Xers are more deliberate in the way they parent. We're trying really hard to give our kids more of a "free range" childhood than the Ys had. We limit structured activities, etc. and let them run around the neighborhood a bit more. X was fortunate in that we had more freedom at a younger age and were able to develop stronger problem solving skills than Y.
I think that Y will probably LEARN from their own childhoods, like everyone else has. You'll probably loosen that leash a bit - and discipline a bit more. Plus, the thing to remember about technology is that your kids will be able to do it better than you. Yes, even Gen Y will be technologically inferior to Gen Z. So, you can GPS them, but they'll probably have a GPS on you, too.
I agree with GenerationXpert that we will learn from the Helicopter Parents of today and alter our strategy with our own children - and then of course, they'll find fault with how we parented them as well.
I think Elevator Parenting is the next big trend. It takes all the good intentions of Helicopter Parenting but knows when to empower as opposed to hover.
August 18, 2008 2:43 pm
Sean
Obviously, anyone's guess is as good as mine, but I think GenerationXpert and J.T. O'Donnell are hitting the nail squarely on the head. What David may not realize is that GenY's "helicopter parents" are reacting directly to their own parents, sometimes modelling and sometimes rebelling, for better or for worse. Just like their parents did. And their parents' parents.
I won't be at all surprised to see GenY return to more conservative parenting model--as is happening with some later GenX parents--especially as technology continues to advance at a rate that will makes them uneasy. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, IM, and all the rest will seem positively quaint by comparison. I'll be interested to see how GenY reacts when their own children are facing that brave new world.
I never thought about that. I'm sure that will happen with some Generation Y parents, but I hope most will realize how important privacy is for development.
But GPS can always ne used just to be sure the Gen Zers are safe.
4 RESPONSES TO "GENERATION Y WILL BE THE HELICOPTER PARENTS FROM HELL"
Oh, I don't know. Boomers definitely did the helicopter thing with their Y kids (which really did hurt them coming into adulthood). But Xers are more deliberate in the way they parent. We're trying really hard to give our kids more of a "free range" childhood than the Ys had. We limit structured activities, etc. and let them run around the neighborhood a bit more. X was fortunate in that we had more freedom at a younger age and were able to develop stronger problem solving skills than Y.
I think that Y will probably LEARN from their own childhoods, like everyone else has. You'll probably loosen that leash a bit - and discipline a bit more. Plus, the thing to remember about technology is that your kids will be able to do it better than you. Yes, even Gen Y will be technologically inferior to Gen Z. So, you can GPS them, but they'll probably have a GPS on you, too.
I agree with GenerationXpert that we will learn from the Helicopter Parents of today and alter our strategy with our own children - and then of course, they'll find fault with how we parented them as well.
I think Elevator Parenting is the next big trend. It takes all the good intentions of Helicopter Parenting but knows when to empower as opposed to hover.
Obviously, anyone's guess is as good as mine, but I think GenerationXpert and J.T. O'Donnell are hitting the nail squarely on the head. What David may not realize is that GenY's "helicopter parents" are reacting directly to their own parents, sometimes modelling and sometimes rebelling, for better or for worse. Just like their parents did. And their parents' parents.
I won't be at all surprised to see GenY return to more conservative parenting model--as is happening with some later GenX parents--especially as technology continues to advance at a rate that will makes them uneasy. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, IM, and all the rest will seem positively quaint by comparison. I'll be interested to see how GenY reacts when their own children are facing that brave new world.
I never thought about that. I'm sure that will happen with some Generation Y parents, but I hope most will realize how important privacy is for development.
But GPS can always ne used just to be sure the Gen Zers are safe.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?