| Parenting style has become a hot topic as we | | | | Authoritarian |
| negotiate the early part of the 21st century. The | | | | Authoritarian parenting on the other hand is highly |
| technological age has certainly affected the way we | | | | demanding yet parents are considered unresponsive. |
| raise our children and it's even been suggested there is | | | | It's a little like strict military discipline where what the |
| a more hands off approach to parenting today. | | | | parent says goes and the child has no right of reply. In |
| Let's face it, in the western world, society today | | | | a sense, they are repressed and ruled by fear. Studies |
| dictates families need to be a two income environment | | | | indicate children from an authoritarian environment are |
| which means either parent spends less time with their | | | | less likely to develop independent tendencies and be |
| children because of work committments and third | | | | less assertive. |
| party carers have come more into play. How about | | | | Uninvolved Or Indulgent |
| single parenting situations? Similar story here I suspect. | | | | At the other end of the spectrum, uninvolved parents |
| We've come a long way since Diana Baumrind made | | | | are exactly that, non-demanding, unresponsive and |
| some interesting observations about parenting style, | | | | almost neglectful in their duties as a parent, while |
| categorizing styles into four main areas: authoritative, | | | | indulgent parents are extremely responsive yet lack a |
| authoritarian, indulgent and uninvolved. Is the way a child | | | | little in the area of discipline. Parents lumped in this |
| adapts to society reflective of the type of parenting | | | | category tend to want to avoid confrontational |
| style they've been subjected to? | | | | situations and the child, "which has them pegged," |
| Authoritative | | | | usually gets what he/she wants. |
| Authoritative parenting is considered the most | | | | So what parenting style do you fall under? Obviously |
| desirable style with parents being both demanding and | | | | most of us would like to be considered a little |
| responsive. The child is expected to adhere to | | | | authoritative in our approach but has society's modern |
| disciplines laid down within the household however, | | | | trends had an effect on the way we raise our |
| they are encouraged to develop their own | | | | children? |
| personalities through less restrictive policies which give | | | | Children are so impressionable at a young age and the |
| them a voice within the family. | | | | early years are vital. A child's personality could be as |
| The guidelines laid down don't smother the child to the | | | | much as 90% developed by the time they are seven |
| extent they have no right of reply to certain situations. | | | | years of age. |
| In other words, there is a certain amount of mutual | | | | Parenting style certainly makes for an interesting |
| support, trust and co-operation existing within an | | | | debating point, doesn't it? |
| authoritative parenting household. | | | | |