parenting

Every summer in the United States, the issue of children being left unattended in motor vehicles hits the headlines. The stories often spur outrage and confusion over how such tragedies continue to occur, despite the media attention and persistent warnings to parents about how closed car windows trap heat, rapidly increasing interior temperatures.

A wide range of studies have shown that unintended pregnancies are associated with a number of negative health impacts for infants and parents — delayed or insufficient prenatal care, alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight, among others.

“Helicopter parents” — so called because they’re seen as overprotective or excessively interested in their children — have been both praised and criticized: They can improve students’ academic performance, but also dominate their children’s college and workplace interactions.

From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Allison Dwyer Emory, Cornell University