Some child development experts on Friday advised parents against over protecting their wards.
The experts said it could deny the children the opportunity of being confident and independent later in life.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ikorodu area of Lagos State that over-protecting children could also pose behavioural hazards to them later in life.
According to the experts, this may also affect them in taking life-changing decisions later in life.
Dr. Mary Aide, a public health expert at the Salib Hospital in Ikorodu, said there was the need for parents to distinguish between being involved in their children’s lives and being overprotective.
Aide said: “Overprotective parents give signals that their children cannot handle life’s challenges on their own and this can lead to lack of self confidence in these children.
“Such children may not have the ability to succeed in life without continued guidance of their parents.
“They may also fail to tackle problems on their own.
“As children reach the teenage years, they often spend greater amounts of time without their parents, so they will misuse it and they are more likely to participate in illegal behaviours.
“They may also tend to see sexual activities, drug abuse and drinking as normal because they have not developed a sense of responsibility for their actions.
“Parents may feel overly protective of their kids and want to control every aspect of their lives, but that’s not how to guide a growing child.”
Aide also advised parents to stop bombarding their children with phone calls all in the name of monitoring their movements.
According to her, they should always advice them and listen to them.
That way, they will build trust and the children will tell them everything happening around them.
Ruth Martins, a counsellor for teenagers, pointed out that being strict did not imply that a child would not have a hidden bad character.
Martins said: “We have seen a case whereby a child pretends to be quiet in the presence of her parents because of their strictness, but would invite men home when her parents are not around.
“It is not advisable to be over protective or too strict.
“Rather, advice and counsel children on why they should not indulge in bad behaviours as well as the dangers of such actions.”
Also, the proprietor of Glorade Flower Group of School, Adesiji Moses, reiterated that children whose parents were over protective had the potential of lacking self-esteem.
Moses said: “Being overprotective can lead to lack of the development of self-esteem in children.
“This is because the child is not allowed to face challenges in school and the society without parental intervention.
“Part of the development of self-esteem in children comes from defeating challenges on their own, of which can be denied of them by overprotective parenting.
“Parents need to let creativity, passion and enthusiasm grow from their wards to create a more balanced life.
“It will also go a long way in raising self-confident children.”
NAN.
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