What is my parenting style? This question can be hard to answer, but it’s important for both parents and children. Parenting styles are the way in which a parent interacts with their child.
There are four main types of parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, and uninvolved. Understanding what your parenting style is will help you better understand how to interact with your child on a daily basis. Which kind of parent do you think that you would fit into? Let’s find out!
Baumrind Parenting Styles: The 4 Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
Discipline is generally associated with authoritarian parents.
- They have a rigid discipline style with limited room for bargaining. Punishment is a common occurrence.
- The majority of communication is one-way: from parent to child. The majority of the time, rules are not discussed.
- This type of parent is usually less nurturing.
- Expectations are high, and there is little room for error.
Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents let their children do as they like with little or no guidance. They are also referred to as indulgent parents.
- They have more in common with friends than with parents.
- Their approach to discipline is the polar opposite of strict. They contain little or no rules, allowing youngsters to solve problems on their own.
- Although there is open communication, these parents prefer to let their children make their own decisions rather than giving them instructions.
- This type of parent is usually warm and nurturing.
- These parents’ expectations are usually low or non-existent.
Uninvolved Parenting
Parents who are uninvolved in their children’s lives give them a lot of independence and normally stay out of their way. Sometimes parents may choose to parent in this manner consciously, and some may be less interested in parenting or unclear of what to do.
- There is no specific discipline style used. Because of insufficient information or concern, an uninvolved parent allows a child to do much of what they want.
- There is a lack of communication.
- This set of parents isn’t particularly nurturing.
- Children have little, if any, expectations.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents are fair and loving, and they have high, unambiguous expectations for their children. Children with this parenting style have a tendency to be self-disciplined and independent thinkers. Children are said to benefit the most from this method.
- Disciplinary rules are outlined and the reasons for them are made clear.
- Communication is regular and tailored to the child’s comprehension level.
- Parents who are authoritative are nurturing.
- Expectations and goals are lofty, but they are communicated plainly. Goals may include feedback from children.
What Is My Parenting Style?
If you have heard of parenting styles like tiger parenting, helicopter parenting, or free-range parenting, most of these beliefs are extensions of Baumrind’s research-based parenting styles listed above.
Only a few parents fit neatly into a particular parenting style, preferring instead to raise children in a mix of ways. Rather than four different parenting styles, consider the four parenting styles psychologically as a continuum. In an ideal world, parents can adjust their parenting style to meet the requirements of their children.
Factors In How Children ‘Turn Out’
Relationships
Children are influenced by their parents. According to research, the quality of a parent-child relationship has a significant impact on brain development, with parenting influencing the actual design of children’s brains.
The stress levels, social-emotional well-being, and even academic achievement of children are all influenced by stable, healthy parent-child connections, according to numerous research. Finding a way to create a loving, high-quality relationship with your child while still establishing expectations and rules is the responsibility of parenting.
Temperament
Each individual is born with a temperament that defines how they approach the world. According to research, how people perceive and react to situations is influenced by a combination of parental influence and genetic tendency.
Our emotional intensity, activity level, mood, how we respond to new places, change and transitions, and our level of focus and tenacity all contribute to our temperament.
Parents and children can have similar temperaments and share most of the same responses, perceptions, and beliefs in some situations. However, they may differ at other times. Parents may need to change their expectations in these situations.