Why Snowplow Parenting Doesn\’t Work in 2024

If all good parents want to do is protect their children and give them a life that is more fulfilling than their own, what\’s wrong with that? Nothing, that\’s what and yet…

Parenting is hard and the world surely doesn\’t care to help ease that burden.

Sure, there are books and movies and TikToks to be the greatest parent ever, but they don\’t hold all the answers. Children aren\’t a monolith. No, really. So let\’s take into consideration that every child is their own person and should be treated as such.

So, since there isn\’t a surefire way to raise children, parents must develop their own parenting styles to raise them. Still, like with anything under the sun, there are good and bad parenting styles that can either help or hinder a child\’s development.

The Snowplow Parenting Style

One particular style to be aware of is snowplow parenting, which isn\’t that well-known but is preferred by overprotective parents who want to keep their children safe from all forms of harm.

Snowplow parenting got its name from parents who try to remove all obstacles from a child\’s life in a way similar to a snowplow pushing snow off an icy road so people can travel safely.

While snowplowing might be effective for people to drive safely on icy roads, raising children doesn\’t work this way. For starters, you\’re dealing with children, not random people driving to work after a snowstorm.

What Is The Good and Bad of Snowplow Parenting

Removing obstacles from a child\’s life is a double-edged sword. Yes, from the outside looking in, the child may smile and rainbows, having everything handed on a golden spoon their parents handcrafted for them, or a child who easily angers when encountering a problem as a result of not being taught the proper skills issues.

Or maybe both.

Even worse, the child may turn into an adult who quits things too easily. And why wouldn\’t they? Suddenly, a prize that was handed to them has to be earned. Think about it; by taking away all obstacles from a child\’s path, they may abandon a goal as soon as they run into a wall.

How Anxiety Can Lead to Bad Parenting Practices

Despite wanting what\’s best for the child, parents can overcompensate for their own childhood pain and neglect, which can embolden bad decision-making.

That means snowplow parenting can lead to micromanaging their the child\’s life.

Even worse, anxiety may compel snowplow parents to help their children do better than their peers, which makes sense – someone running on a road without obstacles will arrive at their destination quicker than someone running on a road littered with obstacles.

Snowplow Parenting vs Helicopter Parenting

Now, you\’re probably thinking that snowplow parenting is just a fancy name for helicopter parenting, and you\’d be wrong. The truth is that the two couldn\’t be any different.

Helicopter parents may watch over their children like a hawk, choosing to keep close in case there\’s trouble, while snowplow parents will intervene in their children\’s every decision by removing any obstacle or harm around them completely.

Think of snowplow parenting as a more hands-on version of the helicopter style. Or, or to illustrate, helicopter parents may watch their children do work, while snowplow parents will do their children\’s work themselves.

Failure Is A Gift a Child Must Receive

Again, Snowplow parenting may sound good, but unfortunately, it still produces poor results in the child\’s development.

It\’s a fact that failure is necessary for a child\’s development, as children learn how to deal with their frustrations, improve upon their mistakes, and, most importantly, discipline.

By micromanaging children, they won\’t be equipped with the tools to navigate their emotions in a non-destructive way or to keep pushing forward when they eventually run into a brick wall. 

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