Helicopter Parents

One day my daughter came home from school and informed me that one of her teachers had said I was turning into a "helicopter parent". Because I had a great relationship with the teacher I knew he was kidding, but not totally. As I learned from my time on the Mesa School Board, helicopter parents hover over their children always making sure they do their best. Sometimes they can get a little out of hand (like one particular cheerleader mom I know) but for the most part helicopter parents are constantly looking out for what's best for their children. Their kids are usually high achievers, talented, athletic and/or motivated.

High school helicopter parents are actually the most intense. About half way through my school board term, I started keeping track of lessons learned from them to use on my own seven children. Here they are in no particular order.

Helicopter parents:

Check up on their kids. Today's schools have systems in place to allow parents to check attendance, grades, behavior, etc. Sometimes this is on-line, via phone call or in a teacher conference. Warning signs of possible trouble ahead typically show up first in one of these areas. With today's tools, finding out your kids math scores or whether they went to class is as easy as looking up your checking account balance. Check with your child's school for options.

Don't just look at their neighborhood school. Arizona's open enrollment laws are some of the best in the country. Maybe your neighborhood school, within walking distance, is the best for your child; maybe not? Helicopter parents typically look at other schools within the district, or charter schools, or private schools, etc. to find the best fit for their child. Of course, several factors must be considered but it is nice to have options.

Have their child take a course on-line. After high school, almost all colleges and universities require/offer courses on-line. In addition, taking on-line courses in high school offers flexibility and variety. Parents who want their kids to graduate early, make up credits, take college courses, or have more room for electives will often have their students take courses on-line.

Take advantage of standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT, or PSAT. There is no downside to taking a national standardized test on a Saturday morning. If you "fail" the ACT exam, it has no impact on your high school grades or graduation. However, if you take one of the standardized tests, and do well, look at the potential rewards; college credit, scholarships, awards, etc. Also, If you take an AP or IB class, be sure to take the corresponding exam. It could pay large dividends.

Make the most of senior year. So many students can't wait until their senior year to go a half day. Families need to decide if this is the best use of their child's time. If a student can complete their freshman year of college while still in high school, thousands of dollars in tuition can be saved. Alternatively, there are several Career and Technical Education courses that can be taken senior year that lead quickly toward certification and good paying jobs.

Talk post high school very early. Nowadays, no matter who you are, the chances of only a high school diploma leading you to a career that can comfortably support a family of four is almost non-existent. Helicopter parents talk early with their kids about the necessity for education and training after high school and plan accordingly. There are so many options; college, trade school, military, apprenticeships, etc. or any combination of the following.