Dear Helicopter Parents,
Elementary school teacher here. We need to talk.
We’re a team, you and I?a partnership in your child’s success and education. And I love you, I do. But some of the things you do drive me nuts and are really bad for your kid! Here’s a handy list.
1. When you enter the classroom at the end of the day to help your child get dressed
Ever wondered why most teachers ask parents to wait at a designated pickup spot outside the classroom at the end of the day" It’s because the end of the day in a classroom is suuuuuuper chaotic, and we really don’t need parents there to add to it. Plus, your kid should really be getting themselves ready; most are completely capable of doing so and we’re trying to teach them independence. Also, when a parent is in the classroom, it feels a bit like having your boss standing over you, watching your work. We become self-conscious of everything (the messy class, the kid who isn’t listening to us, the student who’s in the corner making farting sounds).
Oh, and this goes for you, too, parent lurkers who hover in the hall. We see you. If we aren’t saying anything, it’s not because we’re okay with it.
2. When you let your kid miss a lot of school
Teachers don’t care about the occasional weeklong family trip to someplace sunny in November. We get it?vacations are cheaper in the school year during off-peak times.
I’m talking about the kids who miss scho...