Parenting isn’t a one sided issue. It takes both parents to cooperate with each other in the upbringing of your children and both parenting styles may differ which would result in complimenting each other when educating your children. Wondering which parenting style you are? There are four different categories consisting of four elements which are strategies of disciplinary, warmth and nurturance, your communication styles and expectation of maturity and control.
The first style which is known as authoritarian parenting or some calls it power patrol/perfectionist supervisor is where parents set very strict rules and the failure in following these rules would results in punishment. There’s no tolerance towards any reasons or excuses and are expected to obey orders without any explanations. There are definitely high demands from this type of parenting style but parents wouldn’t be responsive towards the children. Such children would be more passive though obedient and status oriented but rank lower in happiness, social competence and self esteem instead.
An authoritative parenting style or known as balanced or equalitarian parenting style on the other hand, would establish rules and guidelines which children are expected to follow which is a little democratic but the difference is, parents are responsive to their children and are more willing to listen to questions. Parents will not be fast to punish when children fails to meet expectations but are fast in nurturing while forgiving. Such parenting style shows that parents are assertive but not intrusive or restrictive while being supportive towards their children whom they wish to shape as a socially responsible and self-regulated, cooperative adult. This parenting style would result in cooperative and happy yet capable and successful children!
Permissive parenting style is sometimes referred to as indulgent parents whom has very little demands towards their children and rarely disciplines their children because they have low expectations of maturity and self-control. This group of parents is more responsive than demanding who is much more lenient and nontraditional. Parents would also allow considerable self-regulation and usually avoid confrontation from their children. Parents would be more of nurturing and communicative with their children but taking the status of friend more than parents which results in children ranking low in happiness and self-regulation! Children would unfortunately be experiencing problems with authority and would perform poorly in school resulting in being rebellious.
The last group of parenting style would be uninvolved parents or known as avoider who has very few demands and low responsiveness yet having little communications with their children. Such parents would be still fulfilling their children’s basic needs but are generally detached from their children’s life where worst case scenarios, are rejecting or neglecting the needs of their children too! This parenting style rank lowest across all life domains as children will tend to face lack of self-control and are less competent among their friends as they have low self-esteem.
Generally, children need both firm discipline and emotionally supportive parenting style to be able to grow psychologically healthy. Are you seeing a picture of your own parenting styles now? Thinking of a change? Stop waiting and start today as it’s not too late!
