| Want to be a better parent? Knowing what your | | | | sense of the word, for they set few rules or |
| current parenting style is will help you | | | | limits on what their children do. |
| identify your needed areas forimprovement. | | | | |
| Promoting the self-discipline and self-esteem | | | | Research has shown that permissive parents |
| of the children in your family often requires | | | | tend to produce children who are more |
| an emotional juggling act by you as a parent. | | | | immature, demanding and dependent. These |
| It is not easy to be firm and demanding with | | | | children are often rejected by their peers. |
| a child one minute, then warm and | | | | Their self-esteem is often unrealistic and |
| affectionate the next. This is an ongoing | | | | hard to interpret, for they often blame |
| education process both for the parent and for | | | | others for their problems and misfortunes. |
| the child. In addition, many adults naturally | | | | |
| have personalities or temperaments that | | | | The Authoritative Parenting Model |
| predispose them toward one parenting style or | | | | |
| another. | | | | Parents who are able to provide for both the |
| | | | discipline and self-esteem needs of their |
| Authoritarian Parenting | | | | youngsters are referred to as authoritative. |
| | | | They clearly communicate high-but not |
| Parents who tend to overemphasize the | | | | unrealistic-demands for their children's |
| discipline side of the equation are referred | | | | behavior. They expect good things from their |
| to as authoritarian. Authoritarian parents | | | | kids and reinforce those things when they |
| are demanding in the worst sense of the word. | | | | occur. They also tend to give more positive |
| They are intimidators, requiring obedience | | | | encouragement at the right places. When kids |
| and respect above all else. They become | | | | act up, on the other hand, authoritative |
| overly angry and forceful when they don't get | | | | parents respond with firm limits, but without |
| that obedience and respect. Their love and | | | | fits of temper. They are warm, reasonable and |
| acceptance appear totally conditional to the | | | | sensitive to a child's needs. They are |
| child. They do not teach or listen to their | | | | supportive of a child's individuality and |
| kids or explain the reason for their | | | | encourage growing independence. |
| expectations, which are frequently | | | | |
| unrealistic. They often see their children's | | | | Authoritative parents tend to produce |
| individuality and independence as irrelevant | | | | competent children. These kids are more |
| or threatening. | | | | self-reliant, self-controlled, content and |
| | | | happy. They are usually accepted and |
| Research has shown that authoritarian parents | | | | well-liked by their peers and perform better |
| tend to produce children who are more | | | | in school. Their self-esteem is good and they |
| withdrawn, anxious, mistrustful and | | | | report having a happier childhood experience |
| discontented. These children are often | | | | overall. |
| overlooked by their peers. Their self-esteem | | | | |
| is often poor. | | | | Where Do You Need Work as a Parent? |
| | | | |
| Permissive Parenting | | | | Logic and research, then, support the idea |
| | | | that children need both firm discipline and |
| Parents who overemphasize the self-esteem | | | | emotional support to grow up psychologically |
| side of the equation are referred to as | | | | healthy. After reading the descriptions of |
| permissive. They may be warm and supportive, | | | | the parenting styles above, if you found that |
| but they are not good disciplinarians - even | | | | you leaned too much toward the demanding, |
| in the privacy of their own home. They make | | | | authoritarian style, then you need to work on |
| only weak demands for good behavior and they | | | | the warm, supportive side of parenting. You |
| tend to avoid or ignore obnoxious behavior. | | | | need to have more fun with your kids, listen |
| They seem to believe that children should | | | | better and dole out more praise. If on the |
| grow up without any anger, tears or | | | | other hand, you leaned too much toward the |
| frustrations. They reinforce demanding and | | | | permissive style, you need to work on |
| inconsiderate behavior from their children | | | | establishing clear rules, setting limits, and |
| and often find it easier to just give in to | | | | confronting obnoxious behavior. Need to |
| their child's demands. Their love and | | | | modify your parenting style? Start today! |
| acceptance are "unconditional" in the worst | | | | |