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Lawnmower Parents Who Say, “My Child Is the Victim”

beginning elementary teachers classroom management difficult students new elementary teachers parent communication

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Show Notes:

An effective learning environment is built on clear rules, established expectations, and student responsibility. Yet many teachers are noticing an increase in students avoiding accountability, blaming others for their actions, disregarding boundaries, and struggling to show empathy. So what is a teacher supposed to do when the behavior happening at school is a reflection of what’s being reinforced at home?

Welcome to the era of the lawnmower parent - the well-meaning adult who rushes in to clear every obstacle before their child ever has to face it. By consistently removing discomfort and challenge, they unintentionally prevent their child from building independence, accountability, and empathy, which are the very skills you’re working to develop in your classroom. In today’s episode, I walk you step by step through how to navigate the impact of lawnmower parenting using calm, clear, and professional strategies that protect both your classroom and your nervous system.

In the classroom, this dynamic often shows up as students deflecting blame, resisting consequences, or struggling to demonstrate empathy because discomfort has always been removed for them. While this behavior can be frustrating, it’s also revealing. Many of these students haven’t been given the opportunity to sit with mistakes, repair harm, or build resilience. To help you address this, I share a five-step process you can use with your students that will equip you with the tools and language to maintain firm expectations and communicate in a way that doesn’t turn into a debate.

When a student avoids responsibility or resists consequences, frustration is a natural response. But these behaviors are often learned patterns, and breaking patterns requires teaching new ones. By calmly holding boundaries, consistently following through, and explicitly teaching students how to repair harm and practice empathy, you show them that mistakes aren’t something to escape - they’re opportunities for growth. Ultimately, you’re giving students something far more valuable than a cleared path. You’re giving them the tools to navigate obstacles on their own!

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

What a lawnmower parent is and how this parenting style impacts student behavior in your classroom.
A five-step framework you can use to address challenging student behaviors while protecting your classroom and your nervous system.
Scripted responses to use with students that reinforce strategic skill building to protect the learning environment of your classroom.
How to effectively meet with parents using data and a clear plan to work toward a shared goal.
Practical ways to reinforce your ultimate goal as a teacher: helping students connect their choices to the consequences that follow.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode:

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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