I think the term doesnt' so much apply to parents who watch their kids outside.  Like you say, there are a lot of weirdos out there.  I don't know that this is new, but perhaps we are more aware of the weidos than before, hence we protect our children more.

I have seen a helicopter parent, still functioning and flying when her daughter is a grown woman with her own family.  The grand-daughter too is becoming 'possessed' by this great family matriach, this woman sits, and tell the person what to say, how to act.  The daughter reminds me a lot of a hermit crab hiding in a shell.  Now I do that as well to a degree, but this is a sad thing to see.  A grown woman who can't make up her own mind on whether to have tea or coffee...

Deborah says "I have a helicopter parent in my group now ........ they drive me nuts ..the child is 4 and they hover over her like she cant do anything ........funny she can zip , buckle and put her coat, gloves and boots on all by herself ..but last night when dad came she couldn't even figure out if her gloves go on her foot or hands!"

The sad thing about this is that maybe this girl knows it's the only way to get her fathers undivided attention.  There are people I know who don't bother with their children unless it's to chide or criticise and the children see that as attention.  Any attention, good or bad, is better than nothing in their eyes.

It's funny how the parents think by hovering over their children will do them the world of good when it damages them long term, or the child in question rebels.

Neat terminology, never heard of it 'til now.

JJ