Different Parenting Practices

Different Parenting Practices

The right parenting style will create healthy, loving children. Parenting involves teaching children how to respect their elders, be obedient, have discipline, as well as provides support and love for your child. There are four identified types of different parenting styles. Which are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. The type of style that you choose will determine whether your child will be healthy, as well as, whether a loving relationship develops between you and your child. In this paper, I will discuss the types of parenting styles and the best one to foster healthy children. An authoritarian parent lays down the rules and expects them to be followed without any discussion. These parents are very strict. They don’t allow the child to make choices and they consider what they desire without much consideration of the child’s wishes. Their rules are ridged and inflexible. Children raised by this type of parenting style may become very sheltered with unable to voice their opinions. They may have difficulty with emotional expression, unable to make good decisions which could lead to unhealthy relationships. For example, a child raised by an authoritarian parent, comes home from school and knows that they have to put their backpack in a certain place and what chores must be done. The rules are in place, as well as the expectations for his performance. These children know that there will be consequences if they do not follow these rules. An authoritative parent explains the rules and encourages discussion. This type of parenting style combines the best qualities of the authoritarian and permissive parenting style. These parents spend time with his/her child and explain why certain behavior is wrong and the appropriate behavior prior to administering any type of punishment. They are more reasonable and less demanding of their own way and they consider the wishes of their children. They are patient and trust their children. They promote decision making in the child and oversee their decisions. Children who experience this type of parenting style are typically well balanced, have values and a sense of right and wrong. For example, if a child was to break curfew, the authoritative parent would discuss the potential harms of staying out and then discipline the child. They would most likely involve the child in the type of punishment they would receive. The permissive parent punishes infrequently. These parents are a direct contrast to the authoritarian parent. These parents have very few rules and are extremely flexible. Rules for these parents are not a primary focus. They tend to be more of a friend to their child than a parent. These parents often foster children who do what they want, when they want without thinking about the consequences. They have excessive freedom with very little limitations. These parents focus on pleasing their child regardless of their behaviors. These children are in control of the parents and the household. For example, a child of a permissive parent is not required to place their items in a certain place and rarely receive any consequences for not performing chores or making messes. An uninvolved parent only provides for the basis physical and emotional need and nothing else. Uninvolved describes these parents. They are not involved with their children and they do not discipline them. These parents often neglect their children. Children with these types of parents typically have poor social skills and behavioral choices. There appears to be a correlation between the lack of support they receive at home and their poor social and behavioral skills. For example, a child will seek their parent’s attention and may create problems at home and in school to get that attention. Despite the problems, their parents still ignore them and are not emotionally available. I believe that the authoritative parents have the most effective parenting style. Primarily because it allows time for discussion between the parents and their children. In my opinion, all children need discipline. However they benefit most from explanations of what they did wrong and redirection to assist them to make better choices. Authoritative parents listen to their children and encourage independence. It appears that this type of parenting style leads to successful children. In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of parenting would be the art of compromise which leads to healthy lives for children.