How Snowplow Parenting Impacts Kids, According to a Psychologist

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Exactly Does ‘Snowplow Parenting’ Mean?Why Are So Many Parents Snowplowing?Signs of Snowplow ParentingExamples of Snowplow ParentingMental Health Impact of Snowplow ParentingHelicopter Parenting vs. Snowplow ParentingHow to Avoid Snowplow Parenting

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Exactly Does ‘Snowplow Parenting’ Mean?

Why Are So Many Parents Snowplowing?

Signs of Snowplow Parenting

Examples of Snowplow Parenting

Mental Health Impact of Snowplow Parenting

Helicopter Parenting vs. Snowplow Parenting

How to Avoid Snowplow Parenting

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Snowplow parenting attempts to remove all the obstacles from the child’s life so they don’t experience distress, pain, failure, or discomfort, saysMichael Roeske, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and senior director for the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation.

Although the parents’ intention may be to protect their children and help them succeed, this form of parenting can have the opposite effect because it keeps children from developing critical life skills.

In this article, we explore the concept of snowplow parenting, what it looks like, how it affects children, and how to avoid it.

Snowplow parenting is a type of over-parenting, where parents are overprotective of their children and hyperfocused on their child’s lives.

The term is used to describe parents who intervene excessively in their children’s lives, clearing obstacles and challenges out of their way in order to try to ensure their happiness andsuccess.

Like other forms of over-parenting, snowplow parenting originates from a place of love and concern for the child’s well-being. However, shielding children from every challenge and failure can hinder their personal growth and ability to handle life’s difficulties independently.

“The experiences that are stripped away are crucial for childhood development. They help children learn important life skills, includingresiliencefor when things don’t always go their way,” says Dr. Roeske.

These are some of the reasons why parents may engage in snowplow parenting:

—MICHAEL ROESKE, PSYD

These are some of the signs and characteristics of snowplow parenting:

Snowplow parenting can look different in each family, says Dr. Roeske. “The behavior typically starts off inconsequential, as a means for what parents believe will protect their child. It’s when the behavior occurs regularly and becomes normalized that there can be issues.”

These are some examples of snowplow parenting:

Snowplow parenting can persist beyond childhood and into adulthood. For example, Dr. Roeske says parents may call their adult child to make sure they wake up on time, schedule doctor’s appointments or oil changes for them, or continue to support them financially well into adulthood.

Snowplow parenting can provide short-term success and stress-relief for the child, says Dr. Roeske. He explains that this is because a snowplow parent may be successful at helping their child get better grades, make a competitive sports team, avoid detention, get into college, or achieve other accomplishments.

However, snowplow parenting can have adverse effects on the child’s long-term growth and development. These are some of the ways it can affect children, according to Dr. Roeske:

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Snowplow parenting is not to be confused with helicopter parenting (also known as drone parenting), which is another form of over-parenting.

While helicopter parenting involves “hovering,” or keeping a close eye on a child’s every move, snowplow parenting typically involves more direct intervention with a parent taking control and actually doing things for their children, says Dr. Roeske. “A helicopter parent watches closely as their child does their homework. A snowplow parent actually does the homework for the child.”

These are some of the differences between the two types of parenting.

Helicopter ParentingHovering over the child constantlyClosely monitoring the child’s activitiesPaying close attention to any issues the child hasNot giving the child personal spaceSnowplow ParentingDoing everything for the childTaking charge of the child’s lifeRemoving any obstacles in the child’s wayNot allowing the child to be independent

Helicopter ParentingHovering over the child constantlyClosely monitoring the child’s activitiesPaying close attention to any issues the child hasNot giving the child personal space

Hovering over the child constantly

Closely monitoring the child’s activities

Paying close attention to any issues the child has

Not giving the child personal space

Snowplow ParentingDoing everything for the childTaking charge of the child’s lifeRemoving any obstacles in the child’s wayNot allowing the child to be independent

Doing everything for the child

Taking charge of the child’s life

Removing any obstacles in the child’s way

Not allowing the child to be independent

Tiger Parenting—Impact on Children’s Mental Health

These are some strategies that can help you avoid snowplow parenting:

The Benefits of Mindful Parenting

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolbert LS, de Ruyter DJ, Schinkel A.What attitude should parents have towards their children’s future flourishing?Theory Res Educ. 2018;16(1):82-97. doi:10.1177/1477878518765017Randall PS, Koppel PD, Docherty SL, De Gagne JC.The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students: an analysis of self-determination.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8545. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148545Aktar E, Nikolić M, Bögels SM.Environmental transmission of generalized anxiety disorder from parents to children: worries, experiential avoidance, and intolerance of uncertainty.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):137-147. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/eaktarPella JE, Drake KL, Tein JY, Ginsburg GS.Child anxiety prevention study: impact on functional outcomes.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2017;48(3):400-410. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0667-y

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolbert LS, de Ruyter DJ, Schinkel A.What attitude should parents have towards their children’s future flourishing?Theory Res Educ. 2018;16(1):82-97. doi:10.1177/1477878518765017Randall PS, Koppel PD, Docherty SL, De Gagne JC.The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students: an analysis of self-determination.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8545. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148545Aktar E, Nikolić M, Bögels SM.Environmental transmission of generalized anxiety disorder from parents to children: worries, experiential avoidance, and intolerance of uncertainty.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):137-147. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/eaktarPella JE, Drake KL, Tein JY, Ginsburg GS.Child anxiety prevention study: impact on functional outcomes.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2017;48(3):400-410. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0667-y

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Wolbert LS, de Ruyter DJ, Schinkel A.What attitude should parents have towards their children’s future flourishing?Theory Res Educ. 2018;16(1):82-97. doi:10.1177/1477878518765017Randall PS, Koppel PD, Docherty SL, De Gagne JC.The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students: an analysis of self-determination.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8545. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148545Aktar E, Nikolić M, Bögels SM.Environmental transmission of generalized anxiety disorder from parents to children: worries, experiential avoidance, and intolerance of uncertainty.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):137-147. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/eaktarPella JE, Drake KL, Tein JY, Ginsburg GS.Child anxiety prevention study: impact on functional outcomes.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2017;48(3):400-410. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0667-y

Wolbert LS, de Ruyter DJ, Schinkel A.What attitude should parents have towards their children’s future flourishing?Theory Res Educ. 2018;16(1):82-97. doi:10.1177/1477878518765017

Randall PS, Koppel PD, Docherty SL, De Gagne JC.The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on postsecondary students: an analysis of self-determination.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8545. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148545

Aktar E, Nikolić M, Bögels SM.Environmental transmission of generalized anxiety disorder from parents to children: worries, experiential avoidance, and intolerance of uncertainty.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):137-147. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/eaktar

Pella JE, Drake KL, Tein JY, Ginsburg GS.Child anxiety prevention study: impact on functional outcomes.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2017;48(3):400-410. doi:10.1007/s10578-016-0667-y

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