Being a parent and raising children is not an easy task. Each set of parents have a style of their own. But all of them follow one of the four common parenting styles.
Parenting styles directly impact the relationship between parents and children. It is the strategy parents use to raise their children. Just like every child, every parent is different too. The way a kid is bought up varies according to many factors such as emotional climate, personal preferences, social influences and cultural atmosphere among others.
There are 4 distinct types of parenting styles
- Authoritarian/ Disciplinarian
- Permissive/ Indulgent
- Uninvolved
- Authoritative
1. Authoritarian/ Disciplinarian Parenting
This type of parenting style is very strict in terms of discipline. Communication generally flows only one way i.e from parents to the child. Parents who follow this type of parenting hold a lot of expectations from their children and offer zero to no flexibility in daily aspects. Discipline, obedience and control are their topmost priorities instead of nurturing their child. Rules are very consistent and important in their life. Punishment is common and feedback is mostly negative. Authoritative parents are very impatient with misbehaviour.
2. Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents are more of a friendly figure rather than what classic parents are expected to be like. They are warm, friendly and approachable in nature. This parenting style allows kids to make their own decisions and do what they want. These parents sometimes offer a little bit of advice and guidance to their kids. Communication is free-flowing and easy amongst parents and children here. This type of parenting is best defined as ‘low demands with high responsiveness’. They do not focus on the discipline factor in their child’s life and usually shower their children with gifts in order to get them to behave.
3. Uninvolved Parenting
Parents who follow this type of parenting are often considered to be comparatively less interested or unsure in parenting their children. Although, few make the conscious decision to parent this way. Children are given all the freedom in the world and the parents do not interfere in the lives of their kids. Communication in this parenting style is limited and dysfunctional. Parents hold a lack of responsiveness to a child’s needs and are indifferent in nature. Kids are not provided with sufficient emotional needs and grow up in a very detached relationship with their parents.
4. Authoritative Parenting
This type of parenting is characterised by high responsiveness and high demands. Authoritative parents are very nurturing and reasonable in nature. They set expectations for their kids but unlike the other styles of parenting, the expectations are real and achievable. Kids often have to follow a set of rules and the reasons and expectations and the same are explained very clearly. This type of parenting is often considered the best and most beneficial in the development of happy children. Kids often grow up to be, happy, content and self-reliant in nature.