Different Types Of Parenting Style And Its Effects On Child's Healthy Development

Raising a child is one of the hardest jobs, and new parents are always at a dilemma on what is the right parenting style. The future of the child will depend very much on that, so it can’t be taken lightly. From how you interact with your child to how you rectify his or her mistake; everything will affect how he interacts with the world as an adult. So, if you are a new parent and wondering what kind of parenting style you should follow here are the main four.

The parenting style that we Indians are used to is authoritarian parenting. As the name suggests, in this type of parenting the parent assumes all power and responsibility; the child has no chance or scope to give their opinion. Authoritarian parents expect their children to follow the rules laid by them always. They may use punishment instead of discipline when the child breaks or does anything that is contrary to their set rules. This may sound familiar to us because most of us grew up in such a household. The good side of such parenting is that the children are well behaved and good at following rules. But that outweighs the negative side so much that most parents who belong to Generation X and Millennials avoid such parenting. Children who grow up under such a parenting style often have low self-esteem and hesitate in making decisions or problem solving because they are never taught or allowed to do these during their childhood.

The next style of parenting that most parents from Generation X follow is authoritative parenting. In such a parenting style the parents try their best to create a harmonious relationship with their children. They do set rules but explain the rules to their children. The child’s feelings are taken into consideration when enforcing those rules. They use positive discipline to reinforce good behaviours in their children. Children raised in such a parenting style turn out to be responsible adults and are comfortable in making their own decisions.

The third kind of parenting is permissive parenting. In this kind of parenting the parents let their children manage their own lives and make their own decision. They tend to be their children’s friends rather than an authoritative figure. They only time permissive parents will interfere is when there is a serious situation. The positive side of this kind of parenting is that the children grow up to be teenagers with healthy self-esteem. They are good at socializing and less prone to falling or any kind of substance abuse. The negative side is that since there is little emphasis on rules and limits the children don’t respect authority and rules. They often do bad academically and are not driven enough as their parents have little expectations from them.

The last kind of parenting is uninvolved parenting. Such parents don’t bother with their children in any areas especially studies and their social growth. They have no idea what their children are doing and don’t guide their children. Even the basic needs of the children are often overlooked. Such children grow up to be adults with severe self-esteem issues. They also suffer from depression and substance abuse, especially if the parents were uninvolved due to that reason. They also mature fast and learn to do things by themselves compared to their peers.