Includes bibliographical references (pages 329-339).
Contents:
Part 1: What we're doing now. Keeping them safe and sound ; Providing opportunity ; Being there for them ; Succumbing to the college admissions arms race ; To what end? -- Part 2: Why we must stop overparenting. Our kids lack basic life skills ; They've been psychologically harmed ; They're becoming "study drug" addicts ; We're hurting their job prospects ; Overparenting stresses us out, too ; The college admission process is broken -- Part 3: Another way. The case for another way ; Give them unstructured time ; Teach life skills ; Teach them how to think ; Prepare them for hard work ; Let them chart their own path ; Normalize struggle ; Have a wider mind-set about colleges ; Listen to them -- Part 4: Daring to parent differently. Reclaim your self ; Be the parent you want to be.
Summary:
"A provocative manifesto that exposes the detrimental effects of helicopter parenting and puts forth an alternative philosophy for raising self-sufficient young adultsAcross a decade as Stanford University's Dean of Freshmen, Lythcott-Haims noticed a startling rise in parental involvement in students' lives. Every year, more parents were exerting control over students' academic work, extracurriculars, and career choices, often taking matters into their own hands rather than risk their child's failure or disappointment. Meanwhile, Lythcott-Haims encountered increasing numbers of students who, as a result of hyper-attentive parenting, lacked a strong sense of self and were poorly equipped to handle the demands of adult life. Alarmed--for the students, for their parents, and for society at large--she decided to fight back, with this book. In How to Raise an Adult, she draws on research, conversations with educators and employers, and her own insights as a mother and student dean to highlight the ways in which over-parenting harms children and their stressed-out parents. She identifies types of helicopter parents and, while empathizing with parents' universal worries, offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings, this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.