The parenting style used to raise a child plays a significant role in shaping his/her personality and behavior.
So, what are these parenting styles?
In simple words, parenting style refers to the combination of strategies used to raise and nurture a child.
Diana Baumrind, a famous psychologist, in her Pillar Theory, identified 4 major types of Parenting Styles, which are also called Baumrind parenting styles.
It is important to understand these styles because they can significantly impact child development outcomes like self-esteem, academic achievement, social and emotional skills.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parents strongly believe that children must strictly follow the rules.
Characteristics:
- They are often seen as the disciplinarians and use punishment -frequently.
- They don’t believe in explaining to the kids why they should follow the rules.
- They simply expect complete obedience from children because “they said so”.
- They use one-way communication i.e. from parents to child with little or no negotiation.
- Their expectations are high and they offer very little flexibility.
- Authoritarian parents are less nurturing.
The effect on children:
- Children having authoritarian parents tend to have poor self-esteem.
- Their academic performance is not up to the mark.
- They are likely to have poor social skills.
- Since their parents don’t allow much flexibility and majorly decide for them, they are likely to be dependent or submissive.
- Contrarily, they may act out by bullying others (since they face difficulty in processing and expressing anger).
Permissive Parenting
Permissive style involves very little rules and boundaries.
Characteristics:
- These parents are warm and nurturing but extremely lenient.
- They provide minimum direction or guidance to their kids. They rather let children decide for themselves and solve problems on their own.
- They find it difficult to say ‘no’ to their children
- They have minimum or undefined expectations from their children.
- Even if they set rules or consequences, they rarely follow through.
The effect on children:
- Children raised with permissive style tend to have poor self-control.
- They find it difficult to follow the rules and struggle with authority figures.
- They are likely to develop behavioral problems as well as health problems, like obesity or poor dental hygiene.
- They tend to be self-centered and may have problematic relationships.
Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved style, as the name suggests, involves neglectful parenting.
Characteristics:
- An uninvolved parent tends to be inattentive and indifferent to their child’s needs.
- They are mostly not aware of what their child is doing or who is he meeting or what problems he is facing in school or with friends.
- The child is left without care and attention.
- Sometimes, this happens when the parent himself/herself is facing overwhelming challenges or is extremely stressed or unwell.
The effect on children:
- Children raised with neglectful style tend to be impulsive.
- They often exhibit behavioral and emotional problems.
- They are also more vulnerable to mental health issues like addiction.
- They are likely to have poor self-esteem and lower happiness levels.
So, which parenting style should the parent employ?
The answer is the fourth parenting style i.e. the authoritative parenting style.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents set high and clear expectations for children but, at the same time, are warm and reasonable.
Characteristics:
- They don’t just set rules and consequences but also explain the reasons for following those rules.
- They encourage their children to express their opinions and take their feelings into consideration. Thus, the communication is bidirectional and not one-way.
- They are nurturing and ensure a positive environment at home.
- They encourage their children to become independent and take responsibility of their actions.
The effect on children:
- Children raised with authoritative nurturing are likely to be happy and content.
- They have high self-esteem and strong social skills.
- They are likely to exhibit independent thinking and decision making.
- They tend to show responsible behavior.
- They are likely to be academically bright and successful in their lives.
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