Parenting Styles

Juliana Del Vecchio

Professor Greger

English 112-24

May 4th, 2013

Parenting Styles: The impact on Children

Parenting is one of the most challenging but most rewarding occupations. Children do not come with owner manuals. A child is a parent’s responsibility from birth to death and there is no step-by-step guide on how to be the perfect parent raising a perfect child. There are however many different ways in which to be a parent. Diana Baumrid, a clinical and developmental psychologist, identified these different parenting styles by coining the three parenting terms Authoritarian, Permissive, and Authoritative. Each of these parenting styles has aspects that differentiate them from the remaining two styles. Authoritative parenting style is the best parenting style out of the three because it provides a happy medium between authoritarian and permissive parenting. This paper will aim to introduce and give background on the three different parenting styles, the ways in which they affect child behavior and will also aim to explain other components that factor into adult behavior.

Authoritative parenting consists of parenting characteristics of warm but firm parenting. There is a high level of communication between the parent and the child. It is a very democratic form of parenting which acknowledges the fact that the children are growing up and that there is going to be an increasing independence in the child. When considering choices that affect the child they make sure to include the wishes and needs of the child but also input their beliefs and perspective on how this choice could lead to either consequences or benefits as an adult. The growing child is allowed to make choices with the parent and provide their feedback on the decision made. Most children raised under the authoritative parenting style are self-reliant, self-confident, and socially responsible (Daniels).

On the other hand authoritarian parenting is a form of totalitarian parenting....