Overprotective parenting can prevent children's healthy development and progression through developmental stages. It can lead to dependency, anxiety, lack of confidence, and problems achieving independence and maturity. During the autonomy vs. doubt stage from 18 months to 3 years, overprotective parenting does the most damage by preventing children from developing a sense of independence through exploring on their own. This can result in shame and self-doubt. Adolescents also need independence from parents to achieve important developmental tasks like selecting a mate and starting a family. Overprotective parenting prevents this progression and contributes to prolonged dependence.

2. Over Protective Parents
Preventing Developmental
Progression
A Presentation by
Richard Schall

3. Harvy Clarizio & George McCoy

4. “dependency, anxiety and
insecurity, aggressiveness, a
nd achievement motivation
are factors that are
commonly involved in child
and adolescent problems.”

6. Dependency may involve child-
adult relationships in which the
child is often seeking help and
physical contact, engaging in
attention-seeking behavior, and
maintaining physical proximity to
the adult.

8. Over Protective Parent

9. Remember that Erikson proposed an 8
stage theory of psychosocial
development, from infancy to old
age

10. Stage Two: 18 Months To 3
Years
Autonomy vs Doubt
This stage focuses on self control
and self confidence and Erickson
points out that this is the stage
where an overprotective parent
can do the most damage. The
child wants autonomy. We’re all
familiar with the two hour wait
because they have to tie their
own shoes. We wait because in
this stage, failure to reinforce
these efforts will lead the child to
doubt themselves and your trust
in them.

11. Preschoolers with
restrictive, overpr
otective parents =
shame & self-doubt

12. The overly dependent
child is more likely to
become a passively
dependent individual.

13. Maturing children
become less dependent
on their parents, with a
resulting decrease in the
dependent
behaviors, and become
more dependent on
peers for approval and
attention.

14. The uniqueness of adolescence has
long been recognized as a key
crossroads in human development.
Robert Havighurst
The mastery of eight developmental
tasks is critical to adolescent
adjustment

15. 1. Achieving new and more mature relations
with age-mates of both sexes.
2. Achieving a masculine or feminine social
role.
3. Accepting one`s physique and using one`s
body effectively.
4. Desiring, accepting, and achieving socially
responsible behavior.
5. Achieving emotional independence from
parents and other adults.
6. Preparing for an economic career.
7. Preparing for marriage and family life.
8. Acquiring a set of values and an ethical
system as a guide to behavior – developing
an ideology.

16. Adults occasionally find it hard
to quot;let goquot; of their children. They
want to keep their children with
them far beyond any reasonable
time.
This will lead to the
prevention of……..

17. 1. Selecting a mate
2. Achieving a masculine or
feminine social role
3. Learning to live with a
marriage partner
4. Starting a family
5. Rearing children
6. Managing a home
7. Getting started in an
occupation
8. Taking on civic responsibility
9. Finding a congenial social
group

18. Contributes to a child's
overdependence
Interferes with the move
toward greater independence
It creates shame and self-
doubt
Prevents progression in later
Developmental Stages