I am Danish and traveled to America last year. My biggest culture shock (other than the giant cars everywhere) was how parents treated their children. I spent a long time on campgrounds all around California, and every single parent I met seemed crazy afraid of letting their children roam and have fun. Some even put leashes on their kids (!!!).
There was massive scare in America about kids being stolen. Doesn’t help with ppl like epstien being active. Also obnoxious family and neighbors willing to call cps on you over petty squabbles. Then as they got older there is also the concern kids left to There own devices will get into gangs, drugs, and/or end up a dancer at the pink pony club.
As someone who lives in the US, I have seen children playing in the street almost get run over by delivery trucks zipping through the neighborhood. Yesterday a mom was distracted by her two dogs and young daughter on a walk while her son trailed behind her by 25 feet and almost got hit by a commuter coming home from work because the kid just waked out in front of the vehicle without a care in the world.
You can’t just let children “roam free” here without also giving them the smarts to be able to take care of themselves. This is the same country that doesn’t believe in vaccines, and thinks “essential oils” cure cancer.
Cars are really bad for society.
Yeah I think a big part of helicopter parenting is literally just because of cars. My parents were pretty helicopter-ish when I was growing up, and they always justified it by saying if I was allowed to go out on my own I might get hit by a car. And they had a point. People die all the time by getting hit by cars, but we’re so used to it that we just consider that the cost of doing business
As a gen-x person who grew up in a much more free-range parenting environment, I agree.
Helicopter parenting does no favors to the kids.
Growing up in the 80’s, I remember summers of just going out the door in the morning and coming back when I was hungry or when the sun was setting. It was a great way to grow up.
