Parenting Approaches
“Parenting approaches differ from parent to parent.”
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Each parent will have his or her unique approach in tackling a situation. Child rearing is not an easy job and is a great responsibility. Much of what happens later in life depends on the principles instilled in the child by its parents. Therefore the onus is entirely on the parents and it can either make or break the child’s career and life.
It has been observed that most often parents tend to base their approach on the same style as adopted by their parents. It is better that parents do not have any preconceived ideas in their mind about how their child should be brought up based on how other s are bringing up their children. This is a wrong notion as no two children are the same; hence what suits one may not suit the other.
Further times have now changed and what was accepted earlier may not be appropriate now. It has therefore been suggested by psychiatrists that parenting should be shared equally for more unity and consistency. Both the parents should spend quality time with their child by planning joint outings, which would go a long way in bridging the gap between the two generations.
Roughly speaking, it is noticed that parenting approaches fall into three categories: liberal, dictatorial and authoritative.
The liberal parent has little or no control over the child. There are no rules or guidelines to be followed and very often they only cajole their children into doing what is required. The child therefore grows up without knowing what is right and what is wrong. Such behavior at home makes the child rebel at school as he is not used to authority. These children are unable to develop any sense of self discipline.
The dictatorial parent is exactly the opposite of the liberal parent. The child here is expected to obey the parent implicitly without asking any questions. This approach is rather rigid and will be resented by the child .In enforcing such discipline the parent also imposes punishments. The aim is to control but the process is opposed to learning and promotion.
The third category of these approaches on parenting is the authoritative one where the parent while encouraging the child to be independent, also enforces certain rules and discipline in a subtle manner. The parent combines the task of maintaining a warm and close relationship with the child but ensures at the same time that the child is aware that the parent’s word is final.
Out of the three categories of parenting approaches mentioned above, the third type of parenting produces the most positive results. Whichever of the parenting approaches chosen, a parent should ensure that the child’s feelings are honored and their needs are nurtured.
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