What Is the Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Development?
“You probably get this a lot, and I’ve read some articles on the 4 parenting styles, but what in your opinion is the impact of parenting styles on child development?“
This is a great question! As you know from your readings there are four traditional parenting styles: authoritative (warm and demanding), authoritarian (cold and demanding), permissive (warm and not demanding), and neglectful (cold and not demanding). There is extensive research on these four parenting styles and their links with child development. What appears very clearly is that children who have authoritative parents tend to do better in life. In contrast, children who have neglectful parents tend to do the worst.
It seems pretty straight forward, right? This means that if I am always authoritative, my child will turn out fine. Sadly, it is much more complex than that and here are the reasons:
1. Parenting styles explain children’s outcomes to some extent but they are not the only factor explaining how children turn out.
2. If you have noticed, I have said that “children tend to…”. Why? Because even though research shows that authoritative parents tend to have children who do better, we cannot 100% say that all children whose parents are authoritative do well. It is not that simple. Some children with authoritative parents don’t do well at all, and some children with neglectful parents, do very well despite of their upbringing.
3. Parenting styles are not separate containers where parents ‘fall in”. We should think about parenting styles as a continuum. For example, you can be mostly authoritative with a touch of permissiveness.
4. At different stages and circumstances of your life, your parenting style may change. For example, when parents go through stressful situations, they tend to become more authoritarian, their parenting turns harsher.
5. If you have more than one child, it may be that you have a different parenting style with each one of them. Why? Because parents influence their children, but children also influence their parents. Different children provoke different reactions in you and that will influence your parenting.
So, try to be authoritative as often as possible because we know that it is best for our children. But also remember that you won’t always get it right and it is OK. Your child does not need a perfect mother.
Here are some articles on parenting styles you may find helpful:
Parenting Styles: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
Permissive Parenting Style: Characteristics and Effects
Authoritarian Parenting: What’s It About?
What Is Helicopter Parenting? Characteristics and Consequences
I hope the information helps you and it is what you were looking for.
I wish you all the very best.
Love,
Ana
Qué fantástico artículo y que buenos consejos. Ha sido de una gran ayuda. Un abrazo muy fuerte
Maravilloso artículo sobre la serie Adolescentes y consejos de gran ayuda en una etapa tan complicada de nuestros hijos , tan desprotegidos frente a las nuevas tecnologías.Es una ayuda tremenda para nosotros. Muchas gracias
I'd imagine this is quite deteremental for a childs development in the long run as nothing stays the same forever, and we shouldn't really be making these categorisations, especially towards our children.
Just live life, sometimes you'll have to be the parent that's the shoulder to cry on. The week after you may have to raise your voice a little when everyone is in a rush and you're trying to get your children's shoes on.
Just balance it all out, don't be too self critical and pick up on what your child wants and needs.
Again, great writeup!
Thank you so much for your comment. I totally get what you mean. It is always difficult to have kids living with you, wanting to support them and their parents but at the same time not wanting to step in anyone's toes. If there's anything we can do to support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Ana
Ana
sO great to have you here! Totally agree that Zara is great! What other topics would you like us to discuss?
Ana
Ana
