What’s Your Parenting Style?

As a parent, your approach to raising your children will be as individual as you are. Even yet, it’s difficult not to compare yourself to other parents and question if you’re doing things the proper way. And, as unique as your method may be, it is likely to share characteristics with other approaches.

Authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles have been identified by researchers. Then there are two more that have just “entered the discussion”: attachment and free-range parenting. So, how do you see yourself fitting in? Learn about the various parenting styles by reading this article.

Authoritative Parenting

We’ll start with what experts regard to be the healthiest parenting style. Authoritative parents achieve a balance between setting clear limits while also supporting and encouraging their children.

In practise, authoritative parenting could entail holding family meetings to discuss a problem and inviting everyone’s participation. It relies on natural consequences rather than penalties, thus instead of receiving a time out for not wearing a jacket, a youngster who refuses to bundle up must just cope with the cold. It’s establishing a sleeping regimen but still realising the need for flexibility when it comes to nighttime. Rules are followed, but parents are willing to explain why they are followed and validate their children’s feelings.

Children with authoritative parents, according to research, are emotionally and socially well-adjusted and have stable ties to their primary caregiver. They tend to work well with their peers and those in positions of authority.

Authoritarian Parenting

This is the parenting style in which the child is ruled with an iron grip. Authoritarian parents are known for enforcing rigid regulations and enforcing tough punishments. This can take the shape of unreasonable demands, such as forcing a youngster to eat everything on his or her plate when they don’t want to. The slogan is, “What I say goes.” Because the adult is in command, children do not have a say.

Of sure, teaching children to observe rules is beneficial. Because they consider things through before acting, these children are less impulsive. It may, however, lead kids to believe that they must be perfect or face repercussions. Because they don’t have much of a voice, they may begin to retreat and internalise their feelings.

Permissive Parenting

Being a lenient parent does not imply that you are completely careless of your children. These parents still love their children, but there is a lack of discipline and a tendency to let their children’s behaviour problems go unchecked. When their child throws a tantrum, they may give in fast or fail to punish them when rules are breached. They may appear to their child to be more like a friend than someone in a position of power.

Permissive parents’ children often suffer in school and with social and emotional skills. They may defy authority people and regulations, and they may be more impulsive and violent as a result. On the plus side, they can grow up to be independent thinkers who aren’t easily convinced by others.

Uninvolved Parenting

Parents who are uninvolved are simply that: they aren’t actually involved in their children’s life. These parents are unable or unwilling to meet their children’s fundamental requirements, and they are expected to care for themselves. This could include failing to protect young children from potential dangers in the house, failing to provide proper nutrition, or ignoring routine exams. Children may have low self-esteem and have behavioural issues at school, as well as an increased risk of accidents or injury.

Of course, not all of these parents are neglecting their children on purpose. Mental health issues, substance misuse, and feelings of overburden can all be roadblocks to good parenting. Working hours or conditions, earning an income, and keeping a household can all be onerous, and these parents may want additional assistance.

Attachment Parenting

This approach is based on the attachment theory, which states that babies must be physically close to their primary caregiver throughout the first few years of their lives in order to form a solid bond.

Attachment parenting includes things like breastfeeding on demand, babywearing, applying positive discipline, and responding swiftly to a baby’s cries. Many attachment parenting concepts are things that parents practise without even understanding it.

According to studies, babies that have attachment parents have lower stress levels and, as a result, grow up to be more resilient and emotionally and mentally healthy.

One disadvantage of this parenting approach is the weariness that might result from always devoting all of their time and energy to their children. When it comes to attachment parenting, parents must prioritise their own self-care and be conscious of emotions of overwhelm.

Free-Range Parenting

This parenting style is similar to permissive parenting, however free-range parents encourage their children’s freedom. It doesn’t mean that kids are free to do everything they want; rather, it means that they are allowed to accomplish things on their own while being held accountable. As a result, these children—even the youngest—are free to explore their surroundings as long as they remain safe. It could include allowing children to play unsupervised outside or allowing an adolescent to stay home alone.

Each of these parenting styles takes a distinct approach to parenting, and you may find yourself employing several at once, or one style for one situation and another for another. It’s critical to understand that this is completely normal. Many parents use a variety of parenting methods without even realising it! There is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting as long as your children are loved and cared for.

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