When it comes to the art of parenting, there is no wrong or right answer. Every parent has his or her own style of child-rearing style. But it all boils down to giving children their needs and giving what you think is best for them. Ultimately, the child’s best interests are at the core of parenting.
However, different parenting styles have different effects on children. If you want your child to grow up in a certain way, you can adopt a specific style that will result in the behavior or attitude that you want your child to have.
4 Types of Parenting Styles
· Authoritative Parenting
This type of parenting approach describes parents as both highly demanding and very responsive to their children. They know that they should enforce rules in order to achieve control, as well as use it as a form of discipline. But they also know that their children need love and support.
The result:
ü Children grow in a healthy environment and are deeply nurtured. They become confident, independent and are socially and mentally healthy.
· Authoritarian Parenting
An active parenting style, authoritarian parenting puts emphasis on being demanding, with little regards for responsiveness. Parents are strict and want their children best parenting practices to be very obedient and follow their every command, even without explaining why. Punishment is a key indicator of this parenting style.
The result:
ü Children become successful in school and are generally have good behavioral qualities. However, their self-esteem, independence and creativity suffer. They can grow to become overly submissive or rebellious.
· Permissive Parenting
Also known as indulgent parenting, this style is the opposite of authoritarian parenting. It is actually deemed harmful to children because of its lax and tolerant nature. Parents try to keep their children from getting upset that even misbehavior is allowed. They are very high on responsiveness but don’t give emphasis on demandingness.
The result:
ü Children enjoy being independent but they are highly at risk for depression, anti-social behavior, and substance abuse.
· Neglectful Parenting
This is called uninvolved parenting because parents are indifferent to their children. Responsiveness and demandingness are absent. The basic needs of children are provided but parents are generally uninvolved in their children’s lives.
The result:
ü Children are emotionally strong but have trouble forming a relationship with others. They are also prone to addiction and mental issues.
Among the 4 styles, choosing the best parenting practices will still depend on the nature of the parents. and it does not always have to be just one style.
Most parents follow a mix of different child rearing styles. The combination of different strategies works for them when it comes to disciplining their children and teaching them how to face the challenges that life throws at them.
But the most important take on this is that parents should understand that their children are the most important. And taking the positive from each parenting style can form the best parenting approach.
Know more about positive parenting at Rainbow Mama.