Four Parenting Styles

Parenting is the rearing of a child or children by supporting their physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social needs. Experts believe that every parents fall into four different styles.

The first  style is the Authoritarian Parenting. In this style, children are expected to follow strict commandments and orders by their parents without questioning them. Authoritarian parents desire for discipline is so predominant that their relationship with their kids is devoid or low on affection and love. They miss out on real opportunities for guidance when the child needs it most. Children with authoritarian parents are most likely to turn to someone whom they feel loved by and do not learn to think for themselves.

The second style is the Authoritative Parenting. This parenting style is much democratic than authoritarian. Parents impose rules but still listen to questions. They are responsive and demanding at the same time.  Their children’s self-confidence is more developed and show finer emotional control. They also appear more lively, socially responsible, assertive and cooperative. A household with authoritative style of parenting has a very good, mutually respectful and responsible relationship. This is the excellent style for parenting.

The third style is the Permissive Parenting. Parents tend to avoid disagreements at any cost. They don’t want to interfere with their kids development and let them look after themselves. Parents want to relate to their children as peers not as parents. They do not discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity. Children with permissive parents usually engage in attention seeking behavior and grow with no strong inner sense of discipline. Through experience, this style does not work. In order for a family relationship to work, there should be a balance guidance, discipline, love and affection.

The fourth and last style is the uninvolved parenting. As the name implies, parents are uninvolved. They are irresponsible and detached from their child’s life. They often reject the needs of their children. They also have no emotional involvement and child’s supervision. Their children do not have self-control, have low self-confidence and are less competent than their friends.

It’s important for us parents to pick a parenting style that best fits how we would like our child to behave from childhood to adulthood.