Parenting and Education During Early Childhood

Parenting and Education During Early Childhood

Religious, ethnic and economic cultures can all contribute to a preferred parenting style in a given region. Not all parents take the same approach to raising their children and it is important to note that scientist Diana Baumrind found that parents differ in four different dimensions (Berger, 2010). Expression of warmth, strategies for discipline, communication, and expectations for maturity are the important differences that occur within parenting styles. The three patterns of parenting were then determined based on these dimensions and are defined as authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting, and authoritative parenting (2010). Another style is called neglectful/uninvolved parenting which is arguably the worst type of parenting. These type of parents do not know what their children are doing and they seem not to care. Children are harmed by abusive or neglectful parents and the effects of parenting are usually long-term. It is important that children have parents who care about them and parental involvement plays an important role in the development of both social and cognitive competence in the young children (2010).

To understand the implications of the different parenting styles on their children, it is important to know what these parenting styles involve and the types of children they produce. Authoritarian parents love their children but do not show affection. Their word is law, and there is strict punishment, high rules and standards, little communication and lack of care for the child’s opinions or concerns. Children of authoritarians tend to be conscientious, obedient, quiet and sometimes guilty blaming themselves for things that went wrong (Berger, 2010). Permissive parents consider themselves friends to their children. There is little discipline and low expectations, but parents are supportive and accepting listening to anything their child says. The children then are unhappy, lack self-control...