A helicopter parent is a parent who is overly attentive, excessively involved, and often overly fearful about their child's well-being, especially outside the home and in educational settings. They tend to "hover" over their children, closely supervising and intervening in many aspects of their lives, including social interactions and academic matters

. The term "helicopter parent" originated in the late 1980s and became popular in the early 2000s, especially as parents of millennials began to be very involved in their children's college experiences, sometimes intervening with professors or employers on their behalf

. This parenting style is characterized by a desire to protect children from failure or difficulty, often leading to excessive control and involvement that can hinder children's development of independence and problem-solving skills

. Helicopter parenting is different from related concepts like "snowplow" or "lawnmower" parenting, where parents actively remove obstacles from their children's paths rather than just hovering

. In summary, helicopter parenting means a style where parents closely monitor and control their children's lives out of fear or concern, which can negatively impact the child's ability to become independent and confident