Helicopter parents and grandparents could be doing children under their care more harm than good by overreacting when they hurt themselves playing.

Melanie Mac Physio owner and physiotherapist Melanie McAuliffe told Millsy at Midday host Steve Mills on Tuesday kids’ perception of pain could be overblown if lots of attention is given to smaller injuries and scrapes.

“Not everything requires a medical appointment or a band-aid … and not everything deserves icecream or treat afterwards either,” she said.

“Make sure the love and comfort is short-lived, then get on with it

“The more attention that parents give their children for small injuries… I guarantee that child will often limp more before you put the bandage on it.

“It’s about being sensible, a small injury, a small scrape is about getting up and getting on with life and that’s something we’ve got to encourage more in our kids, is to be more resilient.”

Tap PLAY below to hear Melanie and Millsy discuss the theory in more detail.