4 styles of parenting shared by a psychologist – What Is Your Parenting Style?

 

Photo by: The High Asia Herald

Everything from your child's weight to her self-esteem can be influenced by your parenting style. It is essential to ensure that your parenting style promotes healthy lifestyle because it will impact them for the entire life.

The work of Diane Baumrind in the 1960s formed 4 parenting styles that are distinguished by their names and characteristics:

• Authoritarian
• Authoritative
• Permissive
• Uninvolved

Each parenting style differs in at least four ways: discipline, communication, nurturing, and expectations.

The 4 Parenting Styles

Authoritarian

• Overprotective
• High demanding, low responsive
• One way communication
• Rigid discipline style with little negotiation
• Authoritarian parents might say “Because I say so” when children ask a reason behind the rules

Researchers believe that children of strict authoritarian parents seem to be timid, have less confident, less spontaneous and are dependent on voice authorization.

Authoritative

• Understanding
• High demanding, high responsive
• Two-way communication
• The rules of discipline are clear and the reasons are well explained
• Level of motivation are high

Researchers claim that children with authoritative parents tend to be more confident, happy, capable of making decisions and assessing safety risks on their own.

Permissive

• Child-driven
• High responsive, low demanding
• More like friends rather than parents
• Allow considerable self-regulations, lenient, avoid confrontation
• Expectations not set by parents

Children with permissive parents may exhibit more behavioral issue due to low value of authority and rules. They frequently have low self-esteem and may express a lot of sadness.

Uninvolved

• Neglectful
• Low demanding, low responsive
• Expect nothing from children and give nothing in return
• Spend less time with child, little knowledge about children well-being

Uninvolved parents can be negligent, but not always deliberate. A parent suffering from mental illness or substance abuse, for example, may be unable to consistently care for a child's physical or emotional needs. Other problems such as work, bills and managing household, can overwhelm them sometimes.

Children with uninvolved parents might have a poor academic performance. They also have frequent behavioral issues and are unhappy.

What is the best parenting style?

Parents need to take into account various aspects in shaping a successful and useful child in the future. Sometimes one category is not enough, so avoid being discouraged if you have times or areas where you are permissive and others where you are more authoritative.

According to previous studies, the most effective parenting style is authoritative parenting. However, parents with other styles also can take steps to become a more authoritative parent.

Parents can maintain a positive relationship with child while still establishing the authority in a healthy manner if parents are dedicated and committed.