Archive for the ‘parent to become’ tag
What Kind of a Parent to Become?
There are different parenting styles which people adopt to bring up their kids. Usually, parents employ more than one style though their overall style of parenting falls into one of the three main styles of parenting: authoritarian, democratic, and permissive.
Authoritarian parents make most of their children’s decisions and the children are expected to accept the standards of behavior determined by their parents. With their parents in charge of everything, children feel rather secure, clear about the expected behavior pattern, and usually meet success in practical life.
Democratic parents allow their children to have a say in matters that are related to them. Children are gradually introduced to deciding for themselves. Hence, democratic parenting style helps children move easily toward independence.
Permissive parents give the greatest degree of freedom to their kids. The decision-making responsibility is left to the children while guidance and protection are provided only when needed. There are fewer penalties and rules imposed on children than in other parenting styles. Children of such parents usually exhibit greatest creativity and problem-solving skills.
While you may be tempted to practice one of these parenting styles for your kids, it is always good not to adopt a single one of these styles in its extreme form. Doing so runs the risk of developing your child with a maladaptive personality. Overly authoritarian parenting can lead to lack of confidence and initiative in the child. Excessively permissive style of parenting may leave the child wayward and libertine. Blending all the three styles is helpful, beginning with a more (but not extreme) authoritarian when the child is very young, gradually to a more democratic, and then a more permissive style of parenting. Keep in view the response of your child to each mode of your parenting and then act accordingly.