Whether it’s your first child or your fifth, raising a child is a wild ride to say the least. Every child happens to be different, and so they all have to be raised in their own unique way.

The job itself – well… it is tough. Without a doubt, a parent has his or her own struggles to deal with while raising their little one. It happens to be a reason why they end up parenting out of fear.

To “parent with fear” is no myth; some parents raise their child in constant fright, afraid they’re making a grave mistake. These fears stem from multiple factors, ranging from past personal experiences having left their mark, or worst-case-scenarios built from hours of over-thinking.

Although such fear-based parenting habits usually arise from good intentions, they hardly ever help in the long run. In fact, it poses a negative impact on both your child and yourself.

If you happen to fear the notion of taking care of your child, then it’s time you understood why it must be stopped:

It Shelters Children Too Much

As much as your child is yours, they happen to be their own person too. Once they grow up, they have to face the real world themselves, and eventually leaving their parents’ sides.

However, fear-based parenting shelters children more than necessary. Since fearful parents tend to be way too overprotective, they keep their children away from trying something new, like exploring a new place, or riding a bike without their training wheels. This makes children less willing to take constructive risks, and too dependent on their parents. It becomes impossible for them to handle real-world obstacles; to them, entering the real-world feels like someone just burst their bubble!

It Affects Their Confidence

Children who are constantly told “no”, and are always controlled in terms of their choice end up having confidence issues. They tend to be more unsure about their own decisions, and hence have to depend on others to make their choices for them.

This spells huge trouble, because lack of self-confidence is something that’s hard to come out of, especially if it’s been embedded in a child since toddler-hood. Such children tend to be more shy and/or anxious in settings where they may have to make a decision or take the lead.

It Pushes Children Away

Most parents that do parent out of fear do so because they care a lot – but little do they know that their efforts of care are driving their children away.

Children are aware that their parents know better, but they want to be able to think independently. When their parents decline their every request, they become more distant, and feel detached from the overall family unit. Once the distrust between family members sets, it only builds stronger as the years go by.


It’s worth acknowledging that the fear stems from a logical place. Our world happens to be a place where both good and bad exists; a mother or father is justified to fear sending their toddler off to some other place like daycare. Fortunately, nurseries in al Barsha like Oakfield Early Learning Centre are safe and secure; apart from having a secure, interactive environment, the practitioners there make sure children feel comfortable, almost as if they never left home.

If you happen to be a parent who thinks too much about “what if”s: your fear may be justified, but it’s time you stepped out of it – for your child’s happiness.