Some psychologists today attribute the rising frequency of childhood anxiety and depression to over involvement of parents. They say that mental illness and suicide is on the rise in children and teens because these kids are growing up without any sense of control in their own lives. They believe parents need to back off because risky play is crucial to the development of the part of the brain that controls emotions and judgment. In shirt, riskier playgrounds make healthier adults.

Others disagree saying we need more parental involvement. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a child to an accident or other trauma would agree. Read this blog entry  and decide for yourself. Are we hampering the development of our children by hovering over them, or is parent presence a necessity? You decide.