| There are four styles of parenting: authoritarian, | | | | Children have a voice and their input is valued and |
| authoritative (sometimes called egalitarian), permissive, | | | | listened to, so mom and dad respond to their needs |
| and uninvolved. The uninvolved style is not so much a | | | | and problems, and are sensitive to their emotional |
| way of parenting as it is a lack of parenting, and it's | | | | status. There is flexibility in authoritative parenting that |
| hard on kids. Kids with an uninvolved parent often | | | | allows the parents to bend the rules on occasion. The |
| struggle with feelings of rejection, lack of self-esteem, | | | | school-aged child may be allowed to stay up late to |
| and trust issues. | | | | watch a special TV program, or the teen may be |
| Authoritarian, authoritative and permissive parenting | | | | forgiven for being late (once) when she was riding with |
| styles describe a range of styles, with authoritarian | | | | a friend who wouldn't leave on time. |
| parenting on one end, permissive parenting on the | | | | Decision-making |
| other, and authoritative parenting in the middle. | | | | In authoritative parenting, decisions are made |
| Authoritarian parents tend to be high in structure and | | | | collaboratively. Children have choices-up to a point. |
| low in responsiveness, and permissive parents tend to | | | | Parents listen to their input, but the final decision rests |
| be low in structure and high in responsiveness. | | | | with the parents. Authoritative families function as a |
| Although these are just styles-different ways of | | | | team, and differing needs are negotiated. This results in |
| parenting-and you can't make value judgments | | | | less conflict and more balance than with other |
| between them, authoritative parenting is the most | | | | parenting styles. In an authoritative family, the children |
| balanced style. | | | | above may be able to negotiate a new bedtime or |
| Structure | | | | curfew. |
| Structure is important in authoritative parenting. Rules | | | | Authoritative parenting is a balanced parenting style, |
| and limits are clear, and the children know what | | | | with both high structure and high responsiveness. The |
| consequences to expect for infractions. Routines, | | | | parents are engaged and flexible, but they are still the |
| schedules and traditions help provide a sense of | | | | parents. Structure-rules, limits and boundaries-is present, |
| stability and make the children feel secure. For | | | | but not rigid. |
| example, a school-aged child knows when bedtime is, | | | | Children who have authoritative parenting tend to do |
| and what will happen if he stalls and delays as a teen | | | | well both socially and functionally. They tend not to get |
| knows when curfew is, and what will happen if she is | | | | into problem behaviors, and not to have serious |
| late. | | | | emotional problems. Authoritative parenting is a |
| Responsiveness | | | | balanced style, and it produces well-balanced children. |
| Authoritative parents are responsive to their children. | | | | |