A child psychiatrist who made a recent appearance in Chatham-Kent says parents can be close to their children without becoming "helicopter parents."
"Helicopter parenting" is the trend that sees parents "hover" over their children's every move.
Dr. Jean Clinton is a clinical professor of child psychiatry at McMaster University. She says parents need to find a happy balance between being close to their children and not "hovering" over them like a helicopter.
"They need opportunities to go out there, take risks. Getting into a bit of trouble is a pretty normal thing for kids to develop," says Clinton. "A positive, close relationship also means allowing kids the freedom to learn about themselves, and develop their own resilience."
Clinton says parents need to still foster a strong relationship with their kids, so they can have a support system during stressful situations. These relationships then stem off to other adults in a child's life.
"The more I'm hearing from teachers, the more concern I have that parents are worrying too much themselves, and it's infecting the kids. We really need to have a community response, where 'it takes the village to raise the child," says Clinton.
Clinton recently spoke to parents of the area's Catholic and public school boards at Ursuline College Chatham.
