Your parenting style can affect how your child feels about themselves, how they connect with others, and even their weight. It’s essential for you to develop a healthy and supportive parenting style because your interactions and disciplinary tactics will influence your child for the rest of their lives. According to researchers, there are four main parenting styles:
Authoritarian
Authoritarian parents often don’t consider their child’s feelings before making a decision. They follow the “my way or the highway” rule of life, believing that kids are meant to be seen, not heard. These parents are often strict with their rules and expect their children to follow them without question, with no room for negotiation. Authoritarians use punishments rather than discipline and are more interested in making their child feel regretful about their mistakes than teaching them how to do better.
Children who grow up with these kinds of parents tend to follow the rules most of the time, but often at a price. They have a higher risk of developing problems with their self-esteem since they feel that their opinions aren’t valued. They may also become aggressive and become good liars to avoid punishment.
Authoritative parenting
Authoritative parents make great efforts to create and maintain a good relationship with their children. They make sure to explain the reasoning behind their rules and enforce them while considering their children’s feelings. They make sure to validate their children’s feelings while making it clear that they’re the ones who are in charge.
Authoritative parents use positive rewards to reinforce good behavior, and children of such parents are more likely to grow up to be responsible adults who are comfortable with being themselves. They’re also good at evaluating safety risks by themselves and often grow up to be successful people.
Permissive
Permissive parents are relaxed about enforcing the rules and don’t like giving out consequences. They believe that their children are better off learning with little interference from your side. Permissive parents may allow early access to privileges if their child begs or promises to be good and act more like a friend than a parent.
Kids who grow up with such parents often struggle academically and have little respect for rules and authority. They suffer from low self-esteem and are at a higher risk for health problems such as obesity cavities.
Uninvolved
Uninvolved parents spend little to no time getting to know their children. They rarely have knowledge about their whereabouts or activities and hardly set any rules. Children of such parents don’t receive much parental attention or guidance.
These parents expect their children to essentially raise themselves without devoting any time or energy to meeting their basic needs. They tend to be neglectful, though it might not always be intentional. They might suffer from substance abuse problems or mental health issues or are simply overwhelmed with life’s other problems.
Children of such parents tend to struggle with their self-esteem and perform poorly in school while exhibiting behavioral problems.
Consult a family therapist in New Jersey
It’s important for your children to feel emotionally safe and close to their parents. If you feel like your parenting style isn’t working out for your child or you’d like to seek ways to improve, talk to a family therapist. Stem Wellness has some of the best mental health experts who can get to know your family and work together with you to create a healthy environment for your children to thrive.
We also offer professional psychotherapy counseling, family therapy, and marriage or relationship counseling in New Jersey.
Contact us to book an appointment today.