SNOW PLOW PARENTS
Marzio Zanato
GC&P Senior Consultant, GC&P Innovation Manager, Coach & Expert in Change Management, HR Temporary Management, Trainer certificato presso TTI SUCCESS INSIGHTS® Italia, Certificato Trainer and Coach Value Selling
Snowplow parents may also micro-manage when it comes to diet and education, but they do so with an eye on the future. They want to remove any pain or difficulties from their children’s paths so that their kids can succeed. They are the parents sitting in the principal’s office asking about extra courses or for special allowances for their child. According to educators, there is a sense of entitlement to snowplowers: They blame the school when things go wrong and never accept anything less than first place for their child.
“Snow Plow” parents will do anything to destroy obstacles in their child’s path. Everything that stands in the way of their child’s future success must be removed and sometimes with extreme prejudice.
- Let your kids walk to school on their own because the research tells you i twill contribute to their independence and self-esteem.
- Don’t write note to excuse them from their homework if you don’t agree the teacher’s approach.
- Let them experiencing some failures at school or sports teams.
So, are you or someone you know a “Snow Plow” parent? Take a look at the list below to find out!
- Changing Classes – If a parent has approached their child’s school to have his or her class changed due to lack of friends, they may be a “Snow Plow” parent. It is good for kids to make new friends.
- Bribes to the Coach – If bribes to the coach for placement on a team or more play time are something one may consider, they may have snowplowing tendencies.
- Conflicts with the Referee – There are parents who yell at referees and umpires about wrong calls against their child or child’s team. This is a sign of snowplowing.
- Homework Help – A little bit of help on a homework assignment is okay, but if a parent is doing everything, that is snowplowing.
- Changing Grades – Parents who try to get their child’s grades changed are “Snow Plow” parents. This is especially true if they attempt to do this when the child is in college. Some parents will even hack into a school system and try to change the grades themselves.