CCAC Democracy Board

Question of the week for March 25 to April 1, 2019

After the recent scandal involving parents paying millions of dollars in bribes to get their children into elite universities, what is your opinion about snowplow parenting, in which parents go to extreme “clearing any obstacles in their child’s path to success” (Cain Miller and Engel Bromwich)?

Cane Miller, Claire and Jonah Engel Bromwich. “How Parents are Robbing Their Children of Adulthood.” New York Times, March 18, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/16/style/snowplow-parenting-scandal.html. See also, https://theweek.com/articles/830490/rise-snowplow-parenting.

Davey, Graham C.L. “Helicopter, Snowplow, and Bubble-Wrap Parenting: How is Anxiety Transmitted from Parents to Their Children?” Psychology Today, May 23, 2017. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-worry/201705/helicopter-snowplow-and-bubble-wrap-parenting.

Griffin, Annaliese. “A Lot of Kis Could Really Use a Snowplow Parent.” Quartz, March 23, 2019. https://qz.com/quartzy/1575583/lots-of-kids-could-use-a-snowplow-helicopter-or-lawnmower-parent/.

Haller, Sonja. “Kids Aren’t Growing Up: Shocking New Poll Says Parents Are Killing Kids’ Life Skills.” USA Today, March 18, 2019. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/allthemoms/2019/03/18/parents-killing-kids-life-skills-says-poll-showing-college-admissions-scandal-part-of-pattern/3198310002/.

Leman, Kevin. “Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman Prove to be the Ultimate ‘Lawnmower Parents.’” Fox New, March 16, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/lori-loughlin-felicity-huffman-prove-to-be-the-ultimate-helicopter-parents.

Paresky, Pamela B. “What About the Teens in the College Admission Scandal?” Psychology Today, March 14, 2019. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/happiness-and-the-pursuit-leadership/201903/what-about-the-teens-in-the-college-admission.

Song, Sharon. “Poll: 74% of Parents Admit to Making Appointments for Their Adult Children.” KTVU Fox 2, March 18, 2019. http://www.ktvu.com/news/poll-74-of-parents-admit-to-making-appointments-for-their-adult-children.

Waverman, Emma. “Snowplow Parenting: What to Know about the Controversial Technique.” Today’s Parent, March 22, 2019. https://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/snowplow-parenting-the-latest-controversial-technique/.

How Parents Are Robbing Their Children of Adulthood Today’s “snowplow parents” keep their children’s futures obstacle-free — even when it means crossing ethical and legal boundaries.