Three Basic Parenting Styles

Parenting is a natural thing. Many people enjoy being parents and many more actually look forward to it. Parenting is an art. While many get it right, others find it difficult. There are no “How to” guidelines involved. It is a “learn as you go” kind of thing. It is all about caring for the child (or children), helping and guiding them as they grow, providing their basic needs like shelter, food, clothing and education. Let’s take a look at these 3 effective Parenting Styles.

The authoritarian parenting style: This style has to do with total or complete control. Here, parents provide strict rules and regulations which the children must follow always. Parents do not take lightly any disobedience from the children. Where a child disobeys any of the rules, adequate punishment is promptly administered. This style has many negative effects. First, the children tend to be afraid of their parents always. They prefer being alone than in the company of their parents. Second, it does not allow for affection. It brings about a kind of gap between parents and children.

The permissive parenting style: This is the style that allows the children a lot of room to make their own decisions on issues. It is the opposite of the authoritarian style. There are usually few or no laid down rules and regulations. Where such rules exist, there usually is no effective enforcement and the children may not be punished for breaking the rules. Most parents who adopt this style believe that the children should be free to think for themselves and learn as they grow. In other words, they make their mistakes and correct themselves. Most children enjoy this style of parenting and they always show a lot of love and affection towards their parents. The danger with this style is that most children raised with it find it difficult to adapt to the larger society. In schools, for example, they usually break rules because; they are not used to being checked by regulations.

The democratic parenting style: This is just a kind of combination of the authoritarian and permissive styles. In the democratic style of parenting, rules are set by the parents. Such rules are also enforced but there is always a kind of balance. It is not all about punishment when a given rule is broken. The child may be called and talked to tenderly. The child on the other hand will understand apologize and promise not to break such rule again in the future. Children who grow up under this democratic style are made to understand why rules are set in the first place and why they are not allowed to do certain things. There is a great deal of understanding and working together between parents and children under the democratic style.

The most important thing in choosing a parenting style is to see that the children are well cared for.

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