Note: Subscribe now to GreatDad newsletters to receive great info for dads. Also visit GreatDad’s page on Books for Dads.
Your parenting style is likely to impact the way your child grows up. Being responsive to your children, and at the same time, setting clear rules and limits, is crucial for you as a parent. Based on this, four main styles of parenting have been identified:
- “Just do it or else” – Some parents adopt a highly authoritarian, dictatorial style. They expect children to obey orders without questioning. Rules are well defined in such households and breaking them usually invites punishment. Such a system is typical of societies where little change is expected and deviance from normal behavior can be costly such as a rural or agrarian society.
- “A no means a no” – Some parents are firm, assertive, and authoritative without being authoritarian. They set clear rules, and are firm about discipline without using harsh punishment. Children in such homes are expected to be socially responsible.
- “Do anything you want” – Parents with this style believe in the permissive or indulgent approach. They do not demand responsible behavior and avoid confrontation with their children. Several parents in the 50s and 60s adopted this style.
- “I don’t care what you do” – Few parents remain uninvolved in their children’s lives, which in few cases, borders on neglect.
Typically, most parents are variations or combinations of the above four styles.
There is no “right” or “wrong” parenting style though we all have prejudices on what we think works best based on our own experience and values. Research, however, has shown the effects of various parenting styles on children:
- Children that have grown up in authoritarian settings, tend to show average performance in school but lack spontaneity, effective social skills, and self-confidence.
- Children who are brought up by authoritative parents, grow up to become more responsible. They easily adjust to situations that demand cooperation.
- Children with permissive parents tend to be more creative but some research indicates they may develop behavioral problems as they grow up because they do not accept responsibility.
- Children with uninvolved parents perform poorly at school.
Also read:
Raising Responsible Kids – Ideas from Dr. Robert Brooks
Raising Resilient Kids – Ideas from Dr. Robert Brooks
Six tips for Dads for raising resilient kids – from Dr. Robert Brooks
hey guys this julius from uganda. really this is the web every dad should visist before his kids wakes up ! hahaha
At the end of this article, the author mentions something about research that shows the effects of various parenting styles on children. I was wondering what research? I cannot find any references on this page to the research. I am curious on the research. please help.
Tony.. always glad to hear from you. Hope you enyjeod Father’s Day and all of Nathan’s adorable hand made gifts. Happy Summer to all of you .Bridget
My kid is four and he a good boy. He do what i tells him to. He do it or hell, im gon have to put him back in the cellur. This aint no real website, this is a joke, damn. I got some advise to yall tell em to do what you want, they make great servents