A "lawnmower mom" (or parent) is someone who aggressively clears all obstacles, struggles, and discomforts from their child's path, essentially "mowing down" problems before the child encounters them, to ensure their success and happiness, though this can prevent kids from developing resilience and problem-solving skills. This approach goes beyond typical "helicopter parenting" by actively intervening to remove adversity, rather than just hovering over it, often through over-involvement, fixing issues, or making excuses.
Named after the machine used for cutting grass, a lawnmower parent will “mow down” any obstacle their child might experience. According to a professor who coined the term in a blog post, lawnmower parents “rush ahead to intervene, saving the child from any potential inconvenience, problem, or discomfort".
The term “helicopter parenting” describes parents who are over-involved in their children's lives. They hover close by, and swoop down to help at the first sign of trouble. The phrase first appeared in 1969, in Dr. Haim G. Ginott's book Between Parent & Teenager.
Researchers have categorized parenting styles into various groups—typically 3, 4, or 5 psychological constructs. However, this discussion focuses on 4 main categories—authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved.
The third type, jackhammer parent, describes an even more aggressive type of parent. Jackhammer parents are characterized by their relentless and disruptive behavior, constantly hovering over their children, micromanaging their every move, and demanding special treatment from teachers and school administrators.
“Being an eggshell parent means being chronically unpredictable and prone to mood swings,” Dr. Fox said. “One moment the parent is caring and compassionate, the next they are blowing up at their children. It's a very unbalanced parenting style.”
Have you heard the term “bulldozer parent”? It refers to an overprotective, overly involved parent who tries to clear all obstacles and challenges from their child's life. Like a bulldozer.
Authoritative parenting is the most recommended parenting style. The combination of clear communication and age-appropriate standards can lead to emotionally stable adults who can handle themselves in social situations and set goals for themselves.
Cons of Helicopter parenting:
Some of the signs of parental burnout include:
Dolphin parenting strikes a balance between authority and flexibility. Dolphin parents establish clear expectations but allow room for open communication, encouraging children to express themselves while adhering to boundaries. “This style is collaborative and fosters mutual respect,” says Dr.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
There's no single "hardest" age, but research and parent consensus often point to middle school years (around 12-14) for peaking stress, due to hormonal changes, identity formation, and increased emotional complexity, while some polls highlight age 8 as tough due to early puberty and asserting independence, and others cite toddler years (2-4) for constant supervision and defiance. The hardest age depends on a child's temperament and the parent's style, but the shift from physical toddler needs to complex emotional/social teenage issues creates intense challenges.
A snowplow parent removes all obstacles so that the child never has to be uncomfortable, face a challenge or suffer a consequence. Unfortunately, it's a bigger problem—with far-reaching implications, as we witnessed last year when the college admissions scandal hit national news headlines.
"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody arrangement where one parent has the child for about 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them for 30% (often weekends and some mid-week time), creating a stable "home base" while allowing the non-primary parent significant, meaningful involvement, but it also requires strong communication and coordination to manage schedules, school events, and disagreements effectively.
There is a happy medium: the hummingbird approach, observing from a distance, but always keenly. While the hummingbird parent is vigilant in observing, the idea is that the child doesn't feel the full presence of the parent and thus free to develop those positive benefits of unstructured play.
Like any parent paying attention to their kid's needs, a jellyfish parent is flexible if nothing else. Some may call this spineless, but giving kids the choice to not attend the lesson or practice they are signed up for is baked into being a jellyfish parent.
The 3-3-3 rule for kids' anxiety is a simple mindfulness grounding technique where they name 3 things they see, identify 3 sounds they hear, and move 3 different body parts (like wiggling toes, turning a head, or rolling shoulders) to shift focus from worries to the present moment, helping to calm overwhelming feelings. It's a quick, portable tool to manage anxiety, but for persistent issues, professional help is recommended.
Research shows that, over time, helicoptering parenting may contribute to: Heightened sense of entitlement. Higher use of recreational painkillers. Increased levels of anxiety and depression.
"Tiger" parenting is a distinct and often contentious parenting style characterized by a strict, authoritarian approach aimed at pushing children to excel, particularly in academics and extracurricular activities like music.
The four main parenting styles, identified by psychologist Diana Baumrind and expanded by others, are Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive, and Uninvolved (or Neglectful), each defined by different levels of parental responsiveness (warmth/sensitivity) and demandingness (control/expectations) and significantly impacting child development.
Your strong-willed child needs an authoritative approach.
An authoritative approach means you are assertive, and not intrusive or restrictive. You need to balance your demands and authority by being more responsive to the child's needs, especially the need for self-expression.
Brood parasites trick another bird, fish or other animal into taking care of their young. Brood parasites leave their young with another animal who acts as a “foster parent.” Here, the foster parent is a cape robin-chat (right).
Dolphin parents have rules and expectations but also value creativity and independence. They are collaborative and use guiding and role modeling to raise their kids. Here is a chart outlining the differences in these styles: A Parent's Role. Take our Authoritative Parenting Test.
In some articles, a “Peacock Parent” is described as someone who is overly focused on appearances, treats their child like a reflection of their personal brand, and values image over connection. In other words, the term has been used as a new label for narcissistic parenting.