Finding Your Parenting Style
There have been numerous studies on how parenting affects children as they grow and how productive they become. Although there are no shortage of these types of studies, psychologists have found it extremely difficult to show how specific actions by parents effect their children. So then how do parents choose the parenting style that best fulfils their goals as parents? The truth is that the parenting styles that are chosen by each family will have several major influences.
Of course as a couple, husband and wife have both been raised in separate homes that will have provided two different styles of parenting, as no two styles are exactly identical. This blend between the parenting each experienced will form traits each experienced in their respective homes. Also, those traits may be of a positive nature or negative nature, so it is important for parents to decide together which traits to keep and which to weed out, so to speak. In addition to their previous experience, studies show that other factors play into parenting style such as parents work schedule and the number of children in the family. There are four different parenting approaches that we will discuss:
Authoritarian Parenting
This style of parenting is a very strict approach where parents demand unquestioning obedience. In addition, when rules are broken, there is immediate punishment with less emphasis on listening to and processing the situation. It often seems in this case, children are very obedient to their parents rules and desires, or, on the other hand, children become rebellious to the strict ways of their parents.
Authoritative Parenting
This style of parenting is similar to Authoritarian Parenting in the sense that there are rules and boundries established and are expected to be followed. However, unlike Authoritarian Parenting, Authoriative focuses on communication and over all nurturing of the children.
Permissive Parenting
This style of parenting is not as strict as the above mentioned. Parents are more apt to listen and communicate about different situations than to force rules and strict punishments in certain circumstances. Sometimes, Permissive Parenting allows children to "get away" with much more without many consequences.
Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved parenting is really self-described. Parents typically will fulfill a child's basic needs (food, shelter, clothing). However, parents fail to give nurturing and affection. There is poor communication and little responsiveness.
Regardless of background, it is important for parents to put their best foot forward and strive to be as attentive as possible to the needs of each specific child. It seems, perhaps, that different parenting styles may work for different children. It is important for parents to know their children enough to know which parenting style the children will best react to.
(We will never share or sell your email)