QuintCareers.com
Quintessential Careers -- Your Job Search Starts Here!
I am a...
Student
Job-Seeker
Career-Changer
Coach-Counselor
Other Visitor
Job-Hunting Tools:
  • Search for Jobs
  • Post Your Resume

    Career Tools:

  • Career Resources
  • Career Articles
  • Career Tutorials
  • College Planning
  • Free Career Newsletter
  • Job/Career Bookstore
  • Job-Search Samples
  • Search this Site

    • Other Navigation:

  • QuintCareers.com Home
  • About QuintCareers.com
  • The Career Doctor
  • Employer Resources
    •


    Are You a Helicopter Parent?
    A Quintessential Careers Quiz
    by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

    From the halls of colleges all across the U.S. you can hear the shrieks of dismay and disgust -- not from students who failed an exam, not even from the parents of the students who swoop in and try and solve their student's problems, but from professors and administrators who struggle with the increased participation of college student parents in the daily lives and travails of their sons and daughters.

    These over-involved parents, not so lovingly referred to as helicopter parents because of their seemingly continuous hovering (and some would say smothering) over their students' lives, are typically baby boomer parents -- who some experts say have been overprotective (remember those “baby on board” signs) and overly expressive of their children's success (such as those annoying “proud parent of a high school honors student”).

    But who is to say when love and concern become overbearing and smothering? How do you know whether you are being a good parent or a helicopter parent? Take our quiz and find out!

    Just complete this form. Click on Submit button when ready to send.

    You will receive the answers and a scoring guide via e-mail.

    IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive a response to this quiz, please be sure to (a) enter your full e-mail address in the space provided and (b) please enter your email address twice to ensure that we get your correct e-mail address. We cannot provide you with feedback if your e-mail address is incorrect or not supplied. Read our Privacy Policy if you have any concerns about providing your email address to us. If you don't want to take this quiz interactively, print out this page and mark your answers. Then go to our Helicopter Parent Quiz Scoring Guide to see if you are a career activist.

     
    Your name:
    Your email address:
    Re-enter your email address:
    Directions: Answer always, sometimes, or never to the following statements.

    1. Do you talk (cell, instant message, email) with your college student at least once a day?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    2. Do you take care of all your child's expenses, including cell phone, car, insurance, etc.?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    3. Do you come rushing to the aid of your child -- whether you're asked to get involved or not?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    4. Have you talked with your child's professors about a problem s/he is (or was) having in the class?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    5. Have you called the college's administrators at least once to complain about the dorm, roommate, or meal plan issues?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    6. Do you ask for copies of your child's syllabi so you can keep up with is/her progress in the course?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    7. Do you feel heavily invested in your child's college success?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    8. Have you painstakingly planned your child's life -- from first play date to first day of college -- and maybe even career?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    9. Do you consider yourself your child's best friend?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    10. Would you (or have you) considered calling your child's employer to complain to his/her boss about an unfair situation?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    11. Do you feel bad about yourself when (if) your child does not do well?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    12. Do you defend your child's actions even when it is clear s/he was the one who misbehaved?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    13. Do you micromanage every aspect of your child's life?
      Always
      Sometimes
      Never

    14. Did you compile the list -- or even choose -- the college your child attends?
      Always
      Never

    15. Are you a Baby Boomer (born 1946-64) parent with a Gen Y kid (born 1982-1995)?
      Always
      Never



    Don't forget to check out our entire collection of Tests and Quizzes for Job-Seekers.


    QuintCareers.com Founder Dr. Randall Hansen Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.



    Home | About QuintCareers | A-Z Index | Career Resources | Job Sites | Job/Career Bookstore | Employer Resources

    A Job-Hunting and Career Development Site
    Quintessential Careers, a subsidiary of
    EmpoweringSites.com -- DeLand, FL 32720
    Home Page: http://www.quintcareers.com/
    Email: randall@quintcareers.com
    Copyright © Quintessential Careers. All Rights Reserved