What is "helicopter parent"

n. A parent who pays an inordinate amount of attention to their children and often makes decisions, particularly educational ones, normally the province of the student.

A helicopter parent (also called a cosseting parent or simply a cosseter) is a parent who pays extremely close attention to a child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. Helicopter parents are so named because, like helicopters, they hover overhead, overseeing their child's life.