| When the question of "what are the different types of | | | | spent with his nanny actually worked wonders as it |
| parenting styles?" is asked it's not hard to think back to | | | | had a rapid and effective result on his early |
| the work Diana Baumrind, a psychologist, did nearly 40 | | | | development. The style of parenting he received from |
| years ago. | | | | his nanny ( let's face it, for three years she was like a |
| Baumrind's studies have been a catalyst for further | | | | second mom ) actually reinforced our authoritative |
| research on parenting styles and in many cases, are | | | | approach, as established by Baumrind, and we are |
| just as relevant in today's society as they were during | | | | now reaping the rewards of a well adjusted kid. |
| the 1960's. However, times have certainly changed | | | | Authoritative Parenting |
| since since then and children have different demands | | | | In essence, an authoritative parent allows their child a |
| while parents have to cope with a technology-driven | | | | certain amount of freedom, encouraging independence |
| society. | | | | but still maintaining high control. By combining the |
| Is it fair to say parents today are not allowed to be as | | | | warmth factor as described by Baumrind, a parent is |
| hands on with their children as they were 40 years | | | | able to maintain high demands with responsive emotion |
| ago? Let's face it, work pressures and demands, | | | | and a great respect for a child's autonomy. |
| particularly in western culture dictate families must be | | | | Authoritarian Parenting |
| two income producers, with both mom and dad | | | | Parents who are too strict with their children run the |
| required to produce income which in turn, has led to a | | | | risk of their child becoming reliant on authority. In other |
| substantial increase in the requirement of day care | | | | words, unable to make decisions for themselves for |
| facilities especially for pre-school age children. | | | | several reasons the most notable being because they |
| How many parents reading this article can confirm | | | | may have a fear of doing so simply because they will |
| their child spent nearly as much time under the care of | | | | be looking for approval. |
| a guardian as they did with them simply because | | | | Parenting is not an easy task and those who enter it |
| circumstance prevented them from parenting the child | | | | thinking it is are kidding themselves. Parenting styles |
| 24 hours a day. I know I can and that was back in the | | | | can go a lot deeper than just authoritative and |
| late 1980's. | | | | authoritarian however, by keeping it relatively simple |
| So what effect has this had on the child who has | | | | such as maintaining high control yet encouraging |
| basically had to adjust to differing parenting styles | | | | independence and autonomy makes good sense to |
| before they started school? In my case, I found the | | | | this author. |
| time my child spent with my wife and I and the time he | | | | |