Our parenting styles are often shaped by our own childhood. What’s your style?
Published: February 26, 2021
Authoritative
- Provides structure to a child’s daily routine, including a regular bedtime
- Establishes clear household rules and reasonable consequences
- A healthy, open line of communication between parent and child
Considered the most effective and beneficial parenting style for the average child.
Neglectful
- Doesn’t support a child’s emotional and/or physical needs
- Unaware of what is happening in a child’s life
- Leaves child alone for long periods of time
- Uninvolved with child’s life outside of the home
One of the most harmful parenting styles. Kids have trouble forming relationships with others.
Permissive
- Loving and nurturing, but not demanding
- Lenient to avoid confrontation with child
- Lack of structure, unclear rules, consequences
- May bribe kids to do things with large rewards
Kids more likely to exhibit insecurity, poor social skills, self-centeredness, lack of motivation, and disregard for authority.
Authoritarian
- Demanding, strict and inflexible
- Lack of healthy dialogue between parent and child
- Limits child’s ability to make decisions or choices
- Uses punishment instead of positive reinforcement
Kids may exhibit low self-esteem, associate obedience with love, struggle in social situations, and may rebel when outside of parental control.
Source: Developmental Psychology, Vanderbilt University
