Did you know your parenting style can affect your child’s mental health and self-esteem? Your parenting style needs to support healthy growth and development. More so, the quality of parenting is also more essential than the amount of time spent with your child.

Read on to learn about the four types of parenting styles and find out what category you fall into.

1.The Authoritarian Parenting Style

The authoritarian style of parenting fails to take the child’s feelings or emotions into consideration. An authoritarian parent believes a child should follow the rules without exceptions and often makes statements like ‘it’s my way or the high way.’ They believe a child should be seen and not heard.

Parents who practice the authoritarian parenting style focus on obedience and aren’t really open to negotiating with their children. Rules are made and enforced with little regard for the child’s feelings.

There are several drawbacks to this style of parenting.

  • Kids with authoritarian parents experience difficulties engaging in problem-solving challenges or obstacles.
  • The authoritarian parents use punishment instead of discipline.
  • Parents who practice this style of parenting focus more on making kids pay for their mistakes instead of teaching them to make better choices.
  • Children with authoritarian parents struggle with social skills and other useful lifelong skills for instance communication, bargaining, and critical thinking.
  • Kids whose opinions are not valued consequently become withdrawn and struggle with self-esteem.
  • They become good liars in a bid to avoid getting punished.

2. Authoritative Parenting Style

Unlike the authoritarian style of parenting, the authoritative style on the other hand is a bit more subtle. Here, a lot of effort is put into maintaining a positive relationship with a child.

Authoritative parents have rules and consequences. They allow children to express their feelings but also make it clear they’re in charge.

Authoritative parents are focused on raising well-rounded kids. They employ positive parenting strategies like praise and reward system to reinforce good behaviour.

Research suggests children raised with this parenting style are more likely to become responsible adults. The latter are confident about expressing their opinions. They also grow into happy, successful individuals with good decision-making skills.

3. Permissive Parenting Style

Do you set rules without enforcing them? Do you fail to discipline your child for breaking the rules and believe your child will learn best with little interference from you? If this sounds like something you’ll do, you might be a permissive parent.

Permissive parents usually take more of a friend role than a parent role. They can be talked into giving back privileges with the promise of good behavior.

While permissive parents encourage their kids to talk about their problems, they often don’t put too much effort into discouraging bad behavior or poor choices. This style of parenting comes with several pitfalls

  • Kids who grow up with permissive parents are more likely to struggle academically and socially.
  • They may develop low self-esteem, poor hygiene, and eating habits.
  • Kids with a permissive parent also have the tendency to break the rules and regulations.

4. Uninvolved Parenting Style

As the name implies, uninvolved parenting means you don’t care or ask your child about school, homework, or who they spend time with.

This is the least effective style of parenting. Children lack parental guidance and nurturing. This parenting style is neglectful and expects children to raise themselves.

Usually, there may be an underlying cause for this style of parenting, such as poor mental health of the parent or substance abuse. The parent may also lack knowledge of child care and development, or is facing too much pressure from being a provider. Children are likely going to suffer low self-esteem, poor hygiene, and perform poorly in school with this style of parenting.

You might find yourself in more than one of these parenting styles. Don’t fret, but the authoritative style of parenting is the most effective. With some commitment, you can begin to practice this style of parenting. Above all, be intentional about your parenting journey.

Let us know in the comment section the types of parenting styles you and your partner practice and how it has been so far.

Disclaimer

There are several external factors such as culture, child temperament, and social influences responsible for the various outcomes from different types of parenting styles.