Are you turning into a helicopter grandparent?

It’s a blurry line between being supportive and being far too hovering and overly involved, says CAMILLA FOSTER

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RED FLAG: Criticising parenting choices in front of a grandchild is a no-no

YOU'VE probably heard of the term helicopter parenting - but what about a helicopter grandparent?

“A helicopter grandparent is someone who's really involved and might struggle to step back in terms of parenting duties,” says psychotherapist Amy Bojanowski-Bubb, BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) member.

“They might offer frequent advice and override their children’s parenting decisions.

“In terms of the helicopter analogy, it’s that hovering behaviour of always being there and not stepping back.”

Although this behaviour is usually unintentional and comes from a place of love, it may not always feel helpful or supportive to parents.

Amy has highlighted six common signs of helicopter grandparenting and has offered some advice about how to navigate this dynamic.

“One example of being a helicopter grandparent could be that they've reached to pick up or soothe their grandchild before the parent has even had a chance to respond to a situation,” says Amy.