A qualitative study on helicopter parents raising project children

Parental attitudes and definitions of child profiles are changing with the changes in child rearing. These differences lead to the discussion of the concepts of helicopter parent and project child. In this context, the subject and problem of the research is to understand why helicopter parents want to raise project children, what influences this situation and how project children are raised. The aim of the research is to examine the factors affecting helicopter parents raising project children and to try to understand the practices to these parents in raising their project children. Qualitative research method was preferred in this study. The research was designed as a single case study. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 families (43 people) using snowball, typical and criterion sampling techniques. A separate interview form was prepared for both children and parents. In study, helicopter parents and project children were analyzed in the context of education. The findings were analyzed with MAXQDA 20 program. As a result of the study, it as found that helicopter parents raise project children. Helicopter parents: send their children to Education, art and sports courses, help them with their lessons, take on the responsibilities of their children, put their children at the center of the family, constantly control their children and almost hover over their children. Helicopter parents were found to be an important actor in children's choices. In the study, it was observed that the project children raised by helicopter parents were mostly unsuccessful, but there were also successful, good and average children. When the reasons why helicopter parents raise "Project children" are analyzed, it is seen that this attitudes is related to many different factors. The negative experiences parents have had in the past, the fact that they do not want their children to face similar risks, and their desire for them to be successful, happy and socially competent individuals in all aspects are among the main reasons for these attitudes. In addition, parents strong belief in the importance of education, Turkey's competitive education system, the idea that their children should be able to stand on their own feet and the value placed on girls education in particular are also factors that influencer this process. In addition, the intense interest and responsibility of having only one child, the desire of families to reflect their means to the child in the best possible way, the tendency to shape the child as desired, the desire to avoid regrets in the future and the concern about peer bullying also stand out as determining factors. When all these factors are evaluated together, it becomes clear why and how helicopter parents raise "project children".