I know this is just semantics, but I'd like to point out that a hothouse is a place where tender seedlings & plants are protected and nourished to grow to their full potential. The seedlings that eventually will be moved outdoors have to be carefully acclimated to the harsh outdoors. As an analogy for childrearing, I think hothousing is good.
I think "hothousing" is meant to indicate that children are being forced to mature more quickly than they would otherwise, due to an unnatural environment. As opposed to plants grown out-of-doors, which will not bloom until they are ready. For most of our kids, "hothousing" doesn't apply because our kids ARE out of doors and blooming in February regardless.
I do agree that the term is not perfect.
