Over-Parenting in Middle School: How Can Parents Help?

As students enter the period of adolescence, students perceive parents as less important than their peers. However, many parents continue to remain involved in their adolescent’s lives, when it comes to helping with homework, problems in their social lives, and academics. Previous research suggests that both positive and negative outcomes have resulted from parents’ over-involvement in their adolescent’s lives. Suggestions for teachers to encourage positive parental involvement to positively influence adolescent development are discussed.