Parenting style is the pattern of behavior, attitudes, and approaches that parents use when interacting with and raising their children. Research shows that different parenting styles can have a significant impact on children's development and mental health. Every parent will develop a unique parenting style due to family background, cultural influences, personal experiences and other factors, and these styles will be adjusted as the child's personality and needs change as they grow.
“Parenting style represents the emotional climate that parents create in the process of raising their children.”
Parents' parenting style includes how they treat their children and the requirements they place on them. Therefore, understanding parenting styles not only helps promote reflection on the part of parents, but also helps scientific research to delve deeper into the impact on the future development of children. As children grow, parents' parenting styles may need to be adjusted to accommodate their children's different personalities and growth processes.
Psychologist Diana Baumrind proposed three main parenting styles in the 1960s - authoritative, authoritarian and permissive, and later added neglectful. These styles are divided into two dimensions: "responsiveness" and "demandingness", and have a fundamental impact on children's psychological and social abilities.
Authoritative ParentingAuthoritative parents are demanding and responsive, setting clear limits and providing support within their children's capabilities. Parents with this parenting style are usually good communicators and will explain their rules and limits, which helps their children understand their behavior.
“Children of authoritative parents tend to be more independent and have better social skills.”
Parents who engage in authoritarian parenting have high expectations of their children but lack responsiveness. They rely on punishment and control and expect complete obedience from their children. This parenting style restricts children's freedom and may result in children who are incompetent in social situations.
Permissive parents have low expectations for their children and lack appropriate discipline. They are usually friends with children and give too much freedom and tolerance, which may lead to children's lack of self-regulation ability.
Neglectful parents are unresponsive and undemanding in their treatment of their children. Children raised with this parenting style may feel lacking in support and love and be prone to developing psychological and social problems.
Parents from different cultural backgrounds have their own parenting styles. For example, in many East Asian cultures, a more authoritarian parenting style is often seen, which is related to respect for parents and elders. While this style may lead to academic success in some cases, it can also lead to negative consequences such as depression and self-doubt. Each parenting style, whether supportive or controlling, has a profound and lasting impact on children.
"Parenting style not only reflects the parents' educational views, but also implies cultural values."
Choosing the right parenting style requires considering the child's personality, needs, and the family's cultural background. Parents should flexibly adjust the way they care for their children to promote their healthy growth. Many studies have shown that a supportive and caring parenting style can improve children's mental health and help them perform better in all aspects.
ConclusionParents' parenting style has a profound impact on their children's future. From mental health to social skills, all are affected by different parenting methods. And in our increasingly diverse culture, how can each parent find the unique parenting style that suits their child?