Every day we hear horrifically sad news about kids, and with each story we hear, we pull our little ones in a little closer and watch over them a little more.

 

However, while it is absolutely necessary to keep an eye on your children and to know where they are at every time, is our need to over –supervise hurting them?

 

It makes them more cautious

While being cautious is not a bad thing, when it starts to interfere in normal every day kid activities like climbing trees, playing in muck or even playing sports, then it is not having a positive effect on your child.

 

It can make them scared

While it is important we teach our children about stranger danger and to be aware of bad people in the world, over need to supervise can actually make kids terrified that something bad is going to happen to them. While we need to keep them safe, we also need to allow them the freedom to do things that interest them without being afraid.

 

They can feel more anxious

Your child looks to you to see how they should be feeling. So, therefore, if you are feeling anxious or showing signs of worry then they will feel anxious about a situation that they don’t need to be worried about.

 

They are also  more likely to take risks when older

While we, as parents, just want our kids to be safe, according to a study published in the journal of Child and Family Studies, over-supervising our kids can cause them to take bigger risks later in life. They found that teenagers who were not able to build up a sense of independence or personal responsibility were more likely you partake in more risky activities. They also found that overprotected students saw themselves as less competent and less able to function autonomously. 

 

While we certainly don’t expect you to allow them walk home at night or play in areas that are not safe, allowing them play in the garden without you standing over them, or walking to school with friends is a great way to help them feel independent.

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