How does a family's child rearing practices influence a child's development?

Answer 1

Of the four parenting styles, the authoritative style is the gold standard. Authoritative parents achieve the right balance of warmth and approval, they are responsive to a child's needs, and explain the reasons that discipline might be in order. In other words, authoritative parents are affectionate and engaged with their child but they also set limits and enforce consequences when the child misbehaves. Children raised by authoritative parents are likely to be happy, kind children who can solve problems on their own and who are self-motivated and confident, and they are usually excellent students.

Authoritarian parents favor strict discipline. They tend to have many household rules, which they expect their children to obey. They are consistent with discipline if their child misbehaves. But authoritarian parents don't believe they need to offer a reason. The answer, "Because I said so," characterizes this parenting style. Authoritarian parents are less affectionate than authoritative ones and some withdraw love to get their child to obey. Children raised by authoritarian parents tend to be moody and anxious, but are typically well behaved, and they are usually average to good students.

Permissive parents typically display a lot of love and affection for their children but maintain and enforce few if any rules. Many permissive parents want to be friends with their child. When they ask their child to do something, such as getting ready for bed, they typically end the request with, "OK?" If the child doesn't get ready for bed, the permissive parent might play with the child until she's ready to go. Children raised by permissive parents tend to be demanding and whiny. They become easily frustrated when things don't go their way, and they lack empathy and kindness for others. They are usually average to poor students.

Uninvolved parents are low on being responsive to a child's needs and low on controlling and disciplining a child. Parents on the worst extreme of this style neglect their children or reject them completely. These parents do not have a strong emotional bond with their child, they aren't involved in their child's life, and if they provide discipline, it's inconsistent and unpredictable. Children raised by uninvolved parents tend to be clingy and needy. They might be rude or act in unsuitable ways away from home. They tend to get into trouble with teachers or with the law and are usually poor students.