The Trophy Child: What's The Harm In Pushing Children To Be Great?

Children raised to push their limits likely have a Tiger Mom for a parent, but what is wrong with this style? Paula Daly, the author of the parenting book "The Trophy Child" explores pushy parenting and its effects, as well as the reasons why many still believe in this approach.

Daly wrote via Daily Mirror that kids raised to push their limits could do well in school or get into a good college or land a great job. The pushy parent micromanages every activity to ensure their success. The parents are grooming a trophy child who has all the potential to top every endeavor she gets into.

Psychologists have long pointed out how pushy parenting can, more often than not, bring more harm to kids emotionally. The children could excellently perform in school or work. On the flipside, however, they can be emotionally crippled with anxiety and other mental disorders that could affect them even later in life.

The characteristics of a pushy parent are typical of a Tiger mom or a helicopter parent. Telegraph cites six examples or scenarios that reveal the pushy parent at their worst behavior. Yet Daly pointed out despite what experts say about pushy parenting, there are still parents who use this approach because the mom or dad is motivated by fear, vanity or commercialism.

Failure is every pushy parent's worst nightmare or fear and today's parents are still in the mindset that if their children are not doing well in school, then it's a reflection of bad at parenting. So if they raise a trophy child, then that child's achievements will also reflect on them, feeding their vanity.

Parents also have several options on how to raise trophy children. They can enroll their kids in different extra-curricular classes to keep them occupied. This commercialism, however, drives pushy parents to be competitive but it is the child who has to suffer from the pressure.

Do you agree with the author? What are your thoughts on pushy parenting or helicopter parenting? Sound off in the comments below!