Just like plowing city streets before cars hit the road after a blizzard, snowplow parenting is all about removing obstacles to create a smooth path to success for kids, whether those obstacles are social, emotional or academic. In 2019, the term “snowplow parent” was originally coined to describe a group of parents who made national news for going as far as bribing SAT proctors to “clear the way” for their kids to be admitted into top colleges. So, who are snowplow parents today?
The trend toward snowplow parenting has likely been exacerbated in recent years thanks to the technological boom and social media, which have put more pressure on parents to ensure their children succeed, explains Caitlin Slavens, a psychologist, parenting expert and co-founder of Mama Psychologists. “While there seems to be increasing awareness about the negative aspects of this kind of parenting, perhaps the urge to shield children from any hardship has been magnified, particularly in a world that places more and more value on achievement,” she says.
Here, experts explain what it means to be a snowplow parent today and the negative effects of paving your child’s road to success. Plus, they offer real-life snowplow parenting examples — and what to do instead.
What is a snowplow parent?
A snowplow parent proactively works to remove all obstacles to prevent their child from struggling or failing, explains Tamar Z. Kahane, a clinical psychologist and director of The Kahane Center, a mental health center offering services to children, adolescents and adults. “The parent is ‘plowing’ the child’s path to ensure that nothing gets in the way of their child’s social, academic or extracurricular success,” she says.
Snowplow parents vs. helicopter parents
Both helicopter and snowplow parents are highly involved in their children’s lives, explains Slavens. However, their vastly different approaches to obstacles make them unique. By definition, helicopter parents hover closely, always watching what their child is doing and rushing to intervene whenever there is a problem, Slavens explains.
“Snowplow parents, on the other hand, take it a step (or more) further — they plow the road clean to the destination, clearing things out before their child can come up against them,” Slavens says. “It’s not merely oversight but proactive erasure of anything that might be off-putting or aggravating.”
Trends affecting snowplow parents in 2025 vs. 2019
“With social media and all the pressure to have the ‘perfect’ child, I wouldn’t be surprised if more parents than ever feel the need to pave the way for their kids,” says Aja Chavez, a counselor and the national executive director of Mission Prep Healthcare, a provider of mental health services for teens in Southern California. “Plus, getting into a good college is super competitive these days, and that might be pushing some parents to go overboard.”
In addition to societal forces, faith in institutions, such as schools and healthcare facilities, is at an all-time low in the U.S., explains Ashley Harlow, a licensed child and adolescent psychologist at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha, Nebraska, which will open a new facility centered around mental health and families in early 2026. “I think this trend has inclined parents to see institutions as potential obstacles rather than as resources to support the development of children,” he says. As a result, parents may be more likely to challenge these resources, he explains.
How snowplow parenting impacts kids
“Although snowplow parenting is much maligned for its adverse side effects, there will be some short-term benefits of this approach that parents may experience,” Slavens says. “Their children might be doing well academically or socially as they have been sheltered from stressors they would have faced. With parents, there’s a sense of control, the feeling that they are doing all they can to help their child succeed.”
However, these benefits and strengths are only skin deep, Slavens says. “Children succeed at specific tasks but ignore vital life skills like resilience and problem-solving.”
The negative effects of snowplow parents
According to Harlow, even though snowplow parents may feel some immediate benefits, he’s witnessed snowplow parents having the following negative short-term effects on kids:
- They undermine a child’s motivation by erasing their need to “try.”
- They hinder the development of problem-solving skills.
- They decrease a child’s distress tolerance, or the ability to handle even minor stress without shutting down.
“In the long-term, snowplow parenting handicaps children as it takes away their learning opportunities and prevents them from learning the skills they need to cope independently and effectively in this world,” Kahane says. This can lead to the following:
- A deflated sense of self since they are dependent on others.
- Low self-esteem.
- Less autonomy and independence.
- Impaired ability to cope with distress or disappointment.
“Children benefit from having parents involved in their lives, but the nature of that involvement matters greatly.”
— Ashley Harlow, child and adolescent psychologist
4 snowplow parenting examples — and what to do instead
Snowplow parenting can be expressed in any number of ways, Harlow explains. Whether witnessed in their own children’s social circles or in a clinical setting, the experts share snowplow parenting examples and offer better approaches to tricky situations:
1. Overstepping at school
Snowplow parenting choice: A parent telephones a teacher to smooth out a minor situation, such as a missed assignment, rather than let the child work the details out themself.
Alternative: Encourage the child to speak to the teacher and ask how they can improve their grade or make up the work. This will empower the child to advocate on their own behalf while encouraging responsible behavior.
2. Controlling peer interactions
Snowplow parenting choice: A parent intervenes in a group project so their child is always partnered with high-achieving peers, ensuring no social or academic friction.
Alternative: Allow the child to experience working with many different peers and to learn collaboration, adaptability and conflict resolution.
3. Forcing extracurriculars
Snowplow parenting choice: A parent signs their child up for every activity to ensure they “stand out” as high-achieving among their peers.
Alternative: Instead, help the child pick a couple of activities they genuinely enjoy so they can develop their own interests.
4. Allowing kids to stay home “sick”
Snowplow parenting choice: A parent keeps a child home from school when the child is experiencing mild physical symptoms, such as a headache or stomach ache.
Alternative: Allow the child to go to school with mild symptoms (as long as they are not vomiting or have a fever) and check in with the nurse later in the day. The lesson? You can be uncomfortable, cope with the discomfort and still learn.
Tips for not becoming a snowplow parent
Snowplow parenting comes from a good place, Harlow reminds parents. “Just like when children are infants and need their parents to manage every challenge, snowplow parents extend that loving, nurturing orientation through childhood and adolescence,” he says. “Children benefit from having parents involved in their lives, but the nature of that involvement matters greatly.”
So how can you be involved in a healthy way? “The secret to not falling into the snowplow parenting trap is understanding that struggle and discomfort are a vital part of the growing-up process,” Slavens says. “Instead of attempting to remove all obstacles to achievement, parents need to give their children space to be challenged, make mistakes and learn from them.”
Here are a few helpful tips for doing just that, according to experts:
Take an initial step back when you see an obstacle
“It starts with giving kids the space to solve their own problems,” Chavez says. “Instead of jumping in to fix things, parents can ask questions like, ‘What do you think you should do?’ or ‘How can I support you?’”
Be a guide, not a plow
Parents can still provide an emotional cushion without getting involved, Slavens explains. This will encourage independence and development of problem-solving skills. “A parent can be a guide” and help their child navigate obstacles in their own time, rather than clearing the way.
Remember the value obstacles can bring
“The most important advice I would offer is to recognize the benefits of distress,” Harlow says. “Overcoming a challenge, rather than removing it, allows a child to build resilience, problem-solving, coping skills and confidence.”
The bottom line on snowplow parenting
“A snowplow parent goes to extremes to remove obstacles in their child’s path, whether at school, in social situations or in personal struggles,” Slavens says. “They want to make things as easy as possible for their child, sometimes by stepping in before any issue arises.”
While the logic behind snowplow parenting is usually well-meaning, shielding your kids from hardship robs them of the important lessons that come from being challenged and then learning how to overcome said challenges. This can result in a lack of motivation, problem-solving skills, self-esteem and independence, according to experts. To help your child succeed without snowplowing, experts encourage parents to take a step back when offering support. “It’s about being there as a guide, not as someone who clears the path entirely,” Chavez says.
