Are You a Helicopter Parent?
1. How often do you communicate with your student on the phone or via e-mail?
Once a week
Two or three times a week
Once a day
Six times a day, maybe more. You lose track.
2. How many professors have you contacted on your student's behalf?
None
One or two
You're not sure, maybe five
All of them
3. How much input do you have in your student's course selections?
You're available to talk about it.
You have a standing appointment before each semester to discuss his or her options.
Your student must get your approval before registration day.
You study the course selections on the Web site and completely arrange your student's schedule.
4. Your student feels he or she isn't getting enough playing time on an athletic team. What do you do?
Pat your student on the back for hanging in there, attend games if you can, and cheer like crazy.
Tell your student to talk to the coach about his or her concerns.
You e-mail the coach.
You call the college president and remind him who's paying the bill.
5. Your student is having trouble writing a paper. What do you do?
You listen. You're sympathetic.
Suggest your student make appointments with the professor and the Writing Center.
Read what's been written so far and give suggestions.
Get a copy of the assignment and write the whole thing. (After all, your student is really busy.)
6. When visiting your student, how much do you help?
You don't clean his or her room. It's not your job.
You help to take out the trash.
After taking out the trash, you do the laundry.
You provide maid services and leave mints on the pillow.
7. Your student hates his or her roommate. What do you do?
Remind your student of other times he or she has successfully solved problems.
Tell your student to talk to the Resident Assistant.
Storm the Office of Residence Life. You want to know what on earth is being done about this.
Call the roommate's parents and let them have it.
8. Your student has just been found responsible for a minor conduct violation. What do you do?
You take a headache medication and discuss with your student the consequences of inappropriate behavior.
Show up on your student's doorstep.
Call the college president. You pay a lot of tuition. Your kid should be let off the hook.
Call Alan Dershowitz and print up "Free Jenny" T-shirts.
