Child psychology and parenting specialist Maritchu Seitún said that overprotecting children damages their self-esteem by signaling they are incapable [1].
This perspective challenges common parenting instincts by suggesting that removing all obstacles for a child can hinder their emotional development. By preventing struggle, parents may inadvertently stifle the growth of the very confidence they wish to instill in their children.
In an interview conducted for the C5N news program and published by La Nación on March 29, 2026, Seitún said that the core message delivered through overprotection is "you cannot" [1]. She said this dynamic negatively impacts how children perceive their own abilities and worth.
To counter these effects, Seitún said the establishment of boundaries that encourage autonomy is necessary [1]. She said that children need to experience controlled failures to develop resilience, which allows them to bounce back from setbacks in a healthy manner.
Seitún said that the role of the parent is to support rather than replace the child's agency. She said parents must allow their children to make gradual decisions to build a sense of competence [1].
According to Seitún, the goal of parenting should be to foster a balance where the child feels supported but is still required to navigate challenges independently [1]. This approach prevents the development of a dependency that can persist into adulthood, a cycle that often begins with the removal of small, age-appropriate risks.
“"The message of overprotection is 'you cannot' and it harms the self-esteem of children."”
This guidance highlights a shift in contemporary parenting discourse, moving away from 'helicopter parenting' toward a model of supported autonomy. By framing failure as a necessary tool for resilience, the approach suggests that psychological strength is built through the successful navigation of difficulty rather than the total avoidance of it.
