Authoritative vs. permissive parenting: How it impacts your child's temper

In this feature we help you to understand how the style of parenting impacts your kidsThe way you parent can have a profound impact on various aspects of your childs life including their selfesteem physical wellbeing and interpersonal skillsIt is crucial to ensure that your parenting approach fosters healthy growth and development because the manner in which you engage with your child and enforce discipline will shape their entire existenceDid you know There are four types of parenting stylesAuthoritarian Parenting Considering your childs feelings is not a priority for you which indicates that you may exhibit authoritarian parenting tendencies Authoritarian parents firmly advocate for unwavering compliance from their children They are known for responding with because I said so whenever a child questions the reasoning behind a particular rule Their approach does not involve negotiation as they prioritise obedience above all elseAdditionally they discourage children from engaging in problemsolving challenges or overcoming obstacles by themselves Instead they establish rules and enforce consequences without much consideration for their childs viewpointPunishments take precedence over discipline in the parenting style of authoritariansInstead of guiding children towards making better choices these parents prioritise inducing feelings of regret for their mistakes As a result children who grow up under the influence of strict authoritarian parents tend to abide by rules most of the time However this obedience comes at a priceChildren raised by authoritarian parents face an increased likelihood of encountering selfesteem challenges due to the devaluation of their viewpointsAuthoritative parentingHere the parents tend todedicate time and effort to prevent behavioural issues proactively They employ positive disciplinary strategies such as praise and rewards to reinforce positive behavioursAccording to studies children with authoritative parents are more likely to grow into responsible adults who are confident in advocating for themselves and expressing their thoughts and emotionsPermissive parenting Parents who are permissive tend to be lenient and only intervene when there is a serious issue They are forgiving and have the mindset that children will be children When they do enforce consequences they may not enforce them strictly They might return privileges if a child pleads or allow a child to end timeout early if they promise to behavePermissive parents typically assume more of a friendship role rather than a parental role They often encourage their children to communicate with them about their problems but they generally do not put much effort into discouraging poor choices or negative behaviourGrowing up with permissive parents can have detrimental effects on childrens academic performanceTheir disregard for authority and rules often leads to behavioural difficulties and a diminished sense of selfesteem causing them to experience sadnessUninvolved parentingIn this style of grooming kids parents who show little interest in their childrenrsquos lives tend to be uninformed about their activities The household environment usually lacks strict rules leading to a deficiency of guidance nurturing and parental attention towards the childrenUninvolved parents expect their children to fend for themselves without devoting much time or energy to fulfilling their basic needs While not always intentional this neglectful behaviour can arise from parentsrsquo mental health issues or substance abuse problems that hinder the consistent provision of physical and emotional care for the childIn certain instances parents who are not actively engaged may lack awareness regarding child development or hold the misconception that their child will fare better without their supervision Consequently children with uninvolved parents frequently encounter challenges related to selfesteem concerns academic struggles recurrent behavioural problems and diminished levels of happinessThe last wordWhile various studies suggest that authoritative parenting is the optimal style it is possible for those who resonate with other parenting styles to transition toward becoming more authoritative parents By embracing the commitment and determination required to be an exceptional parent one can establish a positive rapport with their childDrPrashantMoralwar Consultant Pediatrician Motherhood Hospital Kharghar