'Helicopter parents' make it hard for college freshmen to test wings

Between cellphones, e-mail, instant messaging and text messaging, it's easy to stay in close contact with your college freshman. But should you? asks the Boston Globe via The Arizona Republic.

"... To parents who are walking through the day with their students - it's called helicopter parenting because of its hovering quality - Allison Chase Padula, associate dean of student affairs at Roger Williams College in Bristol, R.I. has two words: Back off.

"Whatever happened to personal growth? Isn't that part of what they come to college for?" she asks.

... Just because they can be, some freshmen are in touch three, four or more times a day. This may seem glorious to parents, but it worries Hunter, who thinks it takes a student away from fully engaging in campus life. Padula says, "Sometimes I see a whole string of kids walking by themselves, all of them on the phone, probably to home."

Related:

-- Helicopter parents - An interesting article by the Journal and Courier Online on how changes in transportation and technology, from cell phones -- nicknamed "the world's longest umbilical cord" by one Georgia university administrator -- to e-mail, give parents an almost split-second way to be involved - even when their kids are away.

emily | 9:04 AM | SMS and Students |
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