According to a poll, almost one in 10 mothers and fathers admit they are “pushy parents”, with many saying they plan their child’s activities with one eye on the future.
The survey of 2,000 UK parents found nine per cent of mothers and fathers identify with the term and hold their hands up to being “pushy”.
34 per cent of those questioned agreed that they try to influence their child’s decisions once in a while, with around one in eight saying they like to have control over their life.
Last year, tennis player Rodger Federer, who is father to one set of twin girls and another of twin boys, warned against the perils of pushy parents.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, he spoke about the support he received from his own parents when it came to him focussing on his love of tennis.
“Parental support and advice is very important, to make you understand that it’s a privilege to be able to go to tennis lessons and play tennis tournaments.”
He added: “At the same time, the parents also need to give space to the kid and the coaches so they can work and travel by themselves – the parents don’t always need to babysit them through their entire career.”
The poll, carried out by confused.com, found that mums and dads steer their offspring towards activities and clubs they think will benefit them later in life.
It said one in 12 spend more than £200 a month on their youngster’s activities, with one in 10 of those questioned admitting to pushing their children into extra-curricular activities to increase their chances of getting into university.
So, would you class it as pushy or just a helpful nudge in the right direction?
