My friends are all at the party tonight and of course I cannot go. Should I sneak out? Should I lie? I just wish my parents were not so overprotective all the time.

There is just no way. I know what happens at parties, she is not ready. She could get hurt or feel unsafe. Absolutely not.

According to sciencedaily.com, parental over involvement can lead to negative outcomes in children, including higher levels of depression and anxiety.

“I think it is society that is encouraging parents to be overprotective,” author of Free Range Kids Lenore Skenazy said. “The result is that kids end up not having as many of the experiences on their own as we had when we were kids.”

Skenazy said that we live in a society that has gone crazy about safety and has gone overboard in imagining the worst-case scenarios all the time.

“There are articles on how to have a safe day outside as if you, as a parent, need instruction on how to keep your child safe,” Skenazy said.

However, parents are starting to realize they cannot take away all the independence of childhood and still expect to have a child who is self reliant, confident and good at making decisions, Skenazy said.

“If you want to raise kids who are good problem solvers, good at paying attention, and able to roll with the punches, you have to let them do things on their own because that’s how they will learn those skills,” Skenazy said.

For a Piedmont student, anxiety and stress are both prevalent in their life, caused by their own helicopter parents.

“My parents usually take things out on me and I have a lot of rules which causes me a great amount of stress,” the student said.

Children who are over parented tend to have lower self-efficacy and an exaggerated sense of entitlement, according to uanews.org.

Uanews.org also said that moms and dads who over parent are likely to be less satisfied with family communication and connection.

The student said they feel like they have to lie to their parents because otherwise, they would get in trouble.

“I usually have to be home at 10:30 when they think I’m just going to a friend’s house,” the student said.

The student said their parents think it is unsafe to be out at night even though it is in Piedmont.

“I couldn’t imagine living somewhere else that’s even more unsafe than Piedmont,” the student said. “I’m not even allowed to just walk to places like the park.”

The student said their parents do not know that they have gone to parties.

“When they ask me if I have gone to a party, I act clueless and feel like I have to guilt trip them just to make them believe I don’t party,” the student said.

The student said they are afraid of their parents’ reaction because they get angry when the student “messes up.”

“If I have a project and I’m up late, they say I shouldn’t have been doing certain things over the weekend and then I get in more trouble,” the student said.

A Piedmont parent said their rules for the student are to place the student’s responsibilities ahead of recreational activities.

“If they breaks the rules, their punishment is the loss of a recreational activity,” the parent said.

Sciencedaily.com suggests that intense involvement is considered by some parents to be supportive, whereas it may actually be perceived as controlling and undermining by their children.

The parent described their parenting style as semi-strict, protective, involved, limiting in degenerative activity, and liberal in educational opportunities.

“I believe these are best for any kid for beneficial social development,” the parent said.

Studies found on sciencedaily.com also suggest that children of overinvolved or over controlling parents may feel less competent and less able to manage life and its stressors.

In the Piedmont student’s case, one of those stressors is driving.

The student said they has been driving for two years now but still do not have their license because their parents think it is too dangerous to drive.

“I’m turning 18 in December and that’s crazy,” the student said. “They need to start letting down their safeguard some time soon.”

The student said they wish their parents would trust their surroundings more.

“It’s really frustrating that they don’t trust Piedmont in general because I take it as they don’t trust me and I know if I get caught it will get worse,” the student said. “They always say they’re doing this because they love me, but I just feel like there’s no trust.”

According to sciencedaily.com, college administrators are concerned that parents do not adjust their level of involvement and control as their child grows up and, instead, practice helicopter parenting.

The student said that throughout their life, their friends have repetitively told them that they are going to go crazy in college.

“My friends tell me that once I am alone, I’m going to have no limits,” the student said. “The more I hear it, the more I believe it.”

According to Uanews.org, children that are raised by those who over parent tend to have a lower rate of coping skills.

“I feel like I should be learning independence skills now so I’ll be ready for college, but because of all their overprotective rules, I don’t know how to be independent,” the student said.

However, for sophomore Lachlan Halverson, home life is very relaxed with his parents.

“My parents are most lenient about me having fun within reason,” Halverson said.

Halverson said that he does not have a curfew but his parents do expect him to get good grades.

“I think my parents way of parenting is positive because I learn from my mistakes and things become less tempting when they are not forbidden,” Halverson said.

Halverson said his parents are aware of what he does with his friends on the weekends.

“I only get privileges taken away if I do not do well in school such as my car or phone,” Halverson said.

According to sciencedaily.com, children’s need for independence increases over time.

Skenazy said that as a kid, there are so many things you can do to escape the pressure from your parents.

“I suggest kids read books from the olden days and find something that sounds fun [and ask your parents if you can do it],” Skenazy said. “[If] they say no, pause for a second and remember what they loved doing as a kid that they don’t let you do.”