Quick Answer
Clue: “What helicopter parents do”
Answer: HOVER
Length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 8-Across
In the grid, you fill it as HOVER.
Why HOVER Is the Right Answer
- The term “helicopter parent” comes from the idea of a parent who hovers over their child—constantly watching, intervening, and staying very close.
- Crossword databases and NYT Mini answer pages list HOVER as the exact 5-letter solution for this clue in the February 4, 2026 puzzle.
- The clue asks what these parents do, so the verb HOVER neatly captures their overattentive behavior, matching both the metaphor and the letter count.
What HOVER Means in Plain English
- To hover is to stay in one place in the air or to remain very close to someone or something, often watching them.
- In the parenting sense, it describes adults who stand over their kids—literally or figuratively—monitoring homework, social life, and decisions.
- So when people say “helicopter parents hover,” they mean these parents stay too close and involved in their children’s everyday lives.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- HOVER is already a known NYT answer for this exact clue in a 2015 daily puzzle, and it appears again in the Mini, so it’s a proven pairing.
- Crossings from Downs (like ARF, MYTH, etc. in this Mini) will quickly confirm the H–O–V–E–R pattern if you weren’t sure at first.
- You’ll also see HOVER for clues like “Stay suspended,” “Linger nearby,” or “Move like a helicopter,” so it’s a useful verb to keep in mind.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mentions helicopter parents, think of words tied to their metaphor: HOVER, MONITOR, or OVERPROTECT; for 5 letters, HOVER is the standout.
- If the clue is about what helicopters do or “stay in the air,” HOVER is again a prime candidate; crossings will distinguish it from FLY or CIRCLE.
Watch for parenting articles and trends influencing cluing—modern social terms like “helicopter parent” often show up in Minis with very literal definitions like this.
