28 May Boundaries in education
In recent times, overprotection has become an increasingly relevant concern in parenting. Although it is natural for families to want to protect their children from environmental dangers, the tendency toward overprotection can have significant adverse consequences on child development. That is why it is important to establish boundaries in education.
Overprotected children may lack problem-solving and autonomous decision-making skills. When parents constantly intervene to solve their children’s problems or prevent them from facing challenges, children do not have the opportunity to develop these skills on their own. This can hinder your ability to meet academic challenges and manage stress related to school performance.
Additionally, overprotection can negatively affect children’s self-esteem and self-confidence. When parents overprotect their children, they are sending the message that they do not trust their children’s capacity to care for themselves, which can lead to a lack of confidence.
Overprotection can also interfere with the development of social and emotional skills in the school environment. Overprotected children may have difficulty relating to their peers and collaborating effectively on group projects, which can affect their school experience and emotional well-being.
It is essential that families find a healthy balance between providing support and supervision and allowing their children to develop independence and self-regulation skills in the school environment. Some suggestions to achieve this include:
- Recognize the importance of balance: Understand the importance of finding a healthy equilibrium between protecting children and allowing them to face challenges on their own.
- Encourage autonomy: Allow children to make age-appropriate decisions, assume responsibilities and face challenges with appropriate support but without excessive intervention.
- Teach problem-solving skills: Help children develop skills to solve problems independently and learn from mistakes.
- Promote open communication: Create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings, which strengthens the relationship and fosters mutual trust.
- Promote tolerance for failure: Make them see that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow, rather than personal failures.
- Establish clear limits and responsibilities: Define clear limits and realistic expectations, and establish consistent rules and consequences for behavior.
- Support, do not do things for them: Offer support and guidance where necessary, but allow children to develop confidence in their own abilities by facing challenges on their own.
By avoiding the trap of overprotection, parents can help their children develop the skills necessary to face life’s challenges with confidence and autonomy.
