I'll shout it from the rooftops: Down with helicopter parenting! Independence, life skills, and fun stem from the freedom to explore on one's own. If anything

I'll shout it from the rooftops: Down with helicopter parenting! Independence, life skills, and fun stem from the freedom to explore on one's own. If anything parents, should be constantly nudging and encouraging kids to be more independent than is typically expected by: 1. Letting them have some unstructured, unsupervised time, especially out in the neighborhood. 2. Not automatically doing or thinking for them, especially by answering advice questions with questions that encourage reflection and independent decision-making. 3. Expect them to help with chores and needs self-service, pushing back against the expectation that parents are the forever barbers, waiters, and maids while the kids are on permanent vacation.