3 styles of parenting
How often have you, as parents, reflected on the ways and effects of your parenting styles on your children? Research has shown that there is a huge range of acceptable parenting styles, from sophisticated to permissive types. One of the solutions to finding the “appropriate” parenting style may be to know the personalities of your child. An analysis of self-report surveys completed by parents and childcare professionals in the community helped us to identify three distinct styles of parenting and the kind of children who can benefit from them.
- The Authoritarian Style
Authoritarian parents tend to be highly complicated in their approach when raising their children. They set high standards of behaviour for their children and expect them to be obedient at all times. They set clear goals for their children and decide for them without seeking their opinions. This style of parenting seems to work effectively in the long run for children with behavioural or conduct disorders. These children need clarity, structure and authority, even though they tend to complain about it in the short run. The authoritarian style tends to work less well with shy, reserved children, who will be frightened with this strict control. - The Balanced Style
Balanced parents tend to maintain an even tone in their approach when raising their children, neither especially strict nor lenient. They tend to use considerable structure when making decisions, but will often leave the decisions to their children themselves. This style of parenting is very effective with the majority of the kids, who benefit from a balanced, structured approach. In contrast, children at either end of the spectrum, whether shy or wild, may feel lost or out of control with the balanced style. - The Permissive Style
Permissive parents tend to let their children make most of the decisions, neglecting the children. While there has been a lot of negative comment recently about permissive parenting, this is actually the ideal parenting style for shy, reserved children, who need lots of love and encouragement, without too much structure, in order to let them begin to form close relationships. However, this parenting style is not suitable for disobedient or aggressive children, who need firmer limits to restrain their impulsiveness.
The important task in parenting is to match your style to that of your child. This guide can assist you to recognize the style that makes parenting your child easier!
