As a parent, how you raise your children can impact their physical, emotional, and cognitive development significantly. Parenting style refers to your approach to raising your kids, including your behaviours, beliefs, and values. According to research, a parenting style often refers to the degree of warmth, responsiveness, and strictness that parents show their children. Understanding these different methods is essential in nurturing them to be the best they can be.
Baumrind Parenting Styles
There are four official parenting styles based on studies by developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind and which were then added to by American Psychologists Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin.
1. Authoritarian parenting
This style entails strict rules and discipline with little warmth and emotional support. You instil clear boundaries and expectations, providing children with a sense of security and structure. But the lack of emotional support and autonomy can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and resentment in children.
2. Authoritative parenting
Authoritative parents establish clear guidelines and limits while also providing warmth and support. This style encourages children to make decisions within the set boundaries, which promotes the development of their cognitive and emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and social aptitude. It also encourages independence, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
3. Indulgent or permissive parenting
This approach offers plenty of warmth and emotional support but is low in rules and discipline. A few studies have shown that this style can lead some children to be less nervous while learning to be more capable of the social behaviours of their parents. But it can also lead to a lack of respect for authority, poor impulse control, and a sense of entitlement.
4. Uninvolved or neglectful parenting
This style lacks rules, discipline, warmth, and emotional support. Parents may be absent or neglectful, leaving their children to fend for themselves. The neglectful approach can lead to emotional, social, and behavioural problems. It may result in children who lack self-regulation and self-sufficiency, display poor social and academic skills, and experience increased stress levels and antisocial behaviour.
You might wonder, “What is the most effective parenting style?” Research suggests the authoritative type. However, its effectiveness still depends on your unique situation. The most suitable parenting style varies depending on factors like your child’s needs, your own goals, and even the family’s challenges.
The Impact of Parenting Styles
Different types of parenting styles have various effects on your child’s development. By being aware of your style, you can make the necessary adjustments to provide your kids with benefits such as:
- A sense of security and structure. Children need consistent rules and boundaries to feel safe and understand what is expected of them. When given in a nurturing, supportive way, it fosters emotional security.
- Emotional support and resilience. Your parenting style can play an essential role in your child’s psychological wellbeing. A 2022 study revealed that teaching mothers about more effective parenting styles helped reduce their daughters’ anxiety and depression.
- Enhanced cognitive development. Studies have shown that if you believe you can influence your children’s development, you tend to become more involved in their lives, more responsive, and adopt a more balanced parenting style, which leads to children with better learning outcomes.
- Better social skills and relationships. A study on the effect of parental styles on social skills showed that children raised in a warm, supportive, nurturing environment develop better social skills and relationships.
How to Boost Your Child’s Confidence
Help your children with their specific needs by boosting their confidence with the following tips.
1. Encourage open communication.
Make sure your kids feel comfortable sharing their insecurities and experiences. Listen without judgment and let them know you support them. If your child wants to build confidence with a winning smile, consult a professional dental practitioner to explore orthodontic treatment options like ClearCorrect, a premium teeth aligner with a unique combination of ClearQuartz material that delivers precision, comfort, and aesthetics.
2. Empower them with choices.
By involving your children in the decision-making process and allowing them to make informed choices, they’ll feel more in control.
3. Focus on the positives.
While it’s important to acknowledge any concerns or issues your kids may have, it’s also important to compliment them on their unique features and strengths.
4. Celebrate!
Enjoy any progress your child makes towards their goals – small improvements or major milestones! Why not treat them out on a date?
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. Be willing to adjust or combine parenting styles for the best fit for your child so you can help them thrive and reach their full potential.
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References:
Garcia, O. B., Lopez-Fernandez, O., & Serra, E. (2021). Raising Spanish Children With an Antisocial Tendency: Do We Know What the Optimal Parenting Style Is? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13–14), 6117–6144.
Kong, C., & Yasmin, F. (2022). Impact of Parenting Style on Early Childhood Learning: Mediating Role of Parental Self-Efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.
PsyArXiv. (2021). A Systematic Review of Parenting in Singapore: Insights to the Culture-Specific Functions of Styles and Practices.
Rakhshani, T., Hamid, S., Kamyab, A., Kashfi, S. M., & Jeihooni, A. K. (2022). The effect of parenting style on anxiety and depression in adolescent girls aged 12–16 years. Heliyon, 8(11), e11478.
Sadeghi, S., Ayoubi, S., & Brand, S. (2022). Parenting Styles Predict Future-Oriented Cognition in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study. Children (Basel), 9(10), 1589.
Salavera, C., & Quílez-Robres, A. (2022). Exploring the Effect of Parental Styles on Social Skills: The Mediating Role of Affects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3295.
Tsela, D., Tsela, R. D., & López, I. G. (2022). Relations between Parenting Style and Parenting Practices and Children’s School Achievement. Social Sciences, 12(1), 5.
Yim, E. P. (2022). Effects of Asian cultural values on parenting style and young children’s perceived competence: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13.
