Free Article: Parenting Styles

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Parenting Styles Should Be Based on Sound Principles
By Wendy Simons

Some people do a lot of research on different parenting styles to find out which is the best option while others approach parenting from the viewpoint of their own experience in raising their children. Often, people make vows not to raise their children the way that they themselves were raised. Such responses are sort of ‘knee-jerk' reactions and not purposeful means to achieving a positive and workable parenting style that is founded on principles of sound parent training.

Not a Natural Phenomenon

Parents may not question their own parenting style until problems begin to creep up with their children, and the current parenting style may suddenly seem ineffective and of no practical use leaving the parent at a loss to explain why it is so. Of course, good parenting is not a natural phenomenon and it is also not always easy to be a good parent. Having said that, it is clear that parents need certain skills if they are to effectively meet parenting challenges, and may thus require finding a sound and practical parenting style for which the parent needs to spare time to train and put into practice.

Though parent education is not required, it is still readily available and necessary as society begins to realize the potential of good parenting. It is certainly a challenge to acquire the proper parenting styles, especially those that inculcate respect as well as are result oriented. Though there are many parenting styles, they all can be categorized in three ways and most parents will have one primary parenting style along with elements of the other styles.

Parenting styles include authoritarian, permissive, as well as a respectful, democratic style. Authoritarian parenting style is one in which parents feel the need to control the children all of the time, and rules are set that must be followed, giving children little or no freedom.

The permissive style is one in which parents fear that their children will not like them if they set limits. Such a style will make the children lack a sense of responsibility and experience trouble with relationships, and think the world is a difficult place to exist in. This is not a very wise course of action as children do not desire or deserve to have freedom without limitations.

Another parenting style is one in which parents take a respectful and democratic style of functioning and treats both parents and children as equals in terms of value. This giving of choices helps to balance freedom with responsibility and teaches children from an early age to learn what the consequences of their choices will result in. It has the effect of making children more co-operative and parents are able to discipline their children without the need of a reward and punishment system.

Author Details:
Wendy Simons, writes for a number of sites about health and beauty she also makes contributions to the A-Z of.com.

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