An expert is warning parents of the issues which can come from pushy parenting after an alarming report was released on bad behaviour at a Wellington public pool.
Dave Atkinson from the Parenting Place says pushing children to succeed at a young age can lead to anxiety and developmental issues.
"Of course we want our children to be successful but sometimes the very thing we do to try and help them be successful, pushing them, can actually create the opposite effect."
Wellington City Council has released a list of bad behaviour reported at Keith Spry Pool over four years and around 5 percent of complaints featured pushy parents.
Although they aren't the majority they are alarming.
In one example, a father was banned from the pool for forcing his child to swim continuously for two hours and ignoring lifeguards who said it was not safe and the child needed a break.
The trend has been recognised by Sport New Zealand, which launched their Balance Is Better philosophy in 2019 encouraging children to try a range of sports and not specialising too early.
Wellington City Councillor Simon Woolf says nine times out of 10, the parenting comes from a good place.
"But then there is that tenth bit where the parents are playing the sport or the art through the kid and they've got different motivations and that's where it becomes harmful to the kids."
He says parents should consider using methods to ensure they don't push their children too hard.
"I was always taught as a coach, at coaching clinics, to use the CRC method which is commend, recommend, commend, rather than be hypercritical, be positive and constructive."
Atkinson says people with children need to question their motivations.
"Why am I pushing my kid so hard?"
Sometimes it's the parents, not the children, who need reminding sport is just a game.
