snowplow parenting

Meaning

1. 1noununcountabledisapproving

   A style of parenting in which adults remove every difficulty or obstacle from a child's life so the child never struggles or fails.

   Grammar: Uncountable; used to talk about the practice in general, not about one specific action.

   Patterns

   • snowplow parenting of someone
   • a snowplow parenting style

   Critics say snowplow parenting leaves children unable to handle small setbacks on their own.

   Her book argues that snowplow parenting, not poverty, is the biggest problem facing wealthy schools.

   Teachers often complain that snowplow parenting makes it impossible to give honest feedback.

Common combinations

snowplow parenting style

Their snowplow parenting style meant the child never had to solve a problem alone.

accused of snowplow parenting

The couple were accused of snowplow parenting after they called the university to complain about a grade.

snowplow parenting trend

The snowplow parenting trend has spread from wealthy suburbs to other communities.

a case of snowplow parenting

Hiring a lawyer for a playground argument is an extreme case of snowplow parenting.

Synonyms and how they differ

helicopter parenting

Helicopter parents hover and watch closely, but snowplow parents actively clear obstacles away; the two overlap but are not identical.

overparenting

Overparenting is a broader term for any excessive involvement; snowplow parenting is specifically about removing difficulties.

lawnmower parenting

Lawnmower parenting is a close synonym, especially in American English, and paints the same picture of mowing down problems ahead of the child.

Opposites

Word family

snowplow parent noun

A mother or father who uses this style of parenting.

Commonly confused: snowplow parenting or helicopter parenting?

Practice

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