Parenting Styles - The Top Four Parenting Styles
Posted on November 05, 2011 by Deborah Ainsworth, One of Thousands of Family Coaches on Noomii.
Every parent has a style, some are inherited from our upbrining, and some are developed over time. Learn your style and what it means.
Parenting Styles
Parenting styles are ever present but often not understood by parents themselves. Parents have their own style in raising their children. This style comes from conditioning of the parenting experienced when the parents were children themselves as well as habits, methods and approaches to handle the challenges and life of their children. Some of these habits and approaches will be appropriate for their children, but some will be non-productive. Awareness of what your style can move you towards more effective parenting and better relationships with yoru children.
There are four distinct parenting styles, and each of them have strengths and weaknesses, and all have varying degrees of how enmeshed you may be with a particular style. There are four parenting styles that address most parents. They are, Authortarian, Authoritative, Permissive and Uninvolved. The main goals of parenting are to teach, influence and control, it is the interpretation of these goals that creates a parenting style. All have a degree of warmth and control which influences the response of your children.
Authoritarian as a parenting style is very demanding and expect their orders to be followed under all circumstance. There are strict rules that are followed without exception. They believe “it is my way or the highway”. This approach creates power struggle between the parents and the child. This approach is high in control and low in warmth.
Permissive parents are high in warmth, low in control. They treat their children as if they are adults, do not impose rules and allow the child to make their own decisions. This stye is usually good at warmth, affection and openness with the child.
Uninvolved parents do not organize or structure the homes. Do not address problems nor discipline the children and may be considered neglectful or rejecting of the child. This scores low in control and warmth.
Authoritative as a parenting style involves parents scoring high in warmth and control. They are firm but flexible. Set clear expectations and monitor their children’s behavior. The discipline when rules are broken are supportive and thoughtful instead of punitive. They are open and affection and encourage their children to be open and expressive.
When considering your parenting style, consider asking yourself what your goals are as a parent, and how do you want to achieve those goals as a parent? Parenting style could have impact to your goals and your relationship. Find an awareness of what your style is and what style you would like to have, work at it, be patient and grow with your children through the process of parenting.
Finding your parenting style and understanding how your particular style developed and may be enhanced can be supported through Parent Coaching. Awareness of your style will help you learn more about yourself, your rationale with parenting and your child’s response to your style. Grow with your children, learn and adapt to them and be consistent.
Coaching can help parents move forward in your goals and dreams
