Key words: Effective Parenting, Parenting styles,
child development
Introduction
Parents have the most important role in the intellectual,
physical, emotional, social and academic development of
children. Parenting is the process of promoting the
development of children from infancy to adulthood. It is a
time consuming and effortful task with rewards and challenges.
Each child is unique and parents should understand the
strengths and vulnerabilities of their children. Every child
has basic needs and it is the responsibility of the parent to
give them what they need in the proper way. Effective
parenting has direct link with academic performance and
personality development of children.
Impact of Parenting Styles on Children
Parenting styles represent strategies that parents use in
rearing their children. The parenting style will significantly
affect the personality development of children. The way in
which the parents interact with their children and how parents
discipline them, will influence the children throughout their
life. There is strong relationship between family processes
and the development of behavior disorders in children [1].
The parent-adolescent relationship has a significant role in
the development of risk behaviors among adolescents. Parenting
styles have great influence on the scholastic performance and
psychosocial adjustment of children[2]. Hence it
is important to ensure that the parenting style is
supporting the healthy growth and development of children.
Researchers have basically identified four different types of
parenting styles. Each style takes a different approach to
raising children.
Authoritarian Parenting
Authoritarian parents believe that kids should follow all the
rules made by parents. They do not give any regard for the
child's opinion. They use punishments instead of proper
discipline. Children growing up with authoritarian parents,
follow the rules most of the time. But these children are at a
higher risk of developing self-esteem problems because their
opinions are not valued. They may also become hostile and
aggressive in future.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents take great effort to create and
maintain positive relationship with children. Such
parents make rules for children, but they also take the
children's feelings into consideration before taking
decisions. They use positive discipline strategies to
reinforce the good behavior of kids.
Children having authoritative parents become responsible
individuals capable of making proper decisions in life. These
kids become self-confident. Authoritative parenting can be
protective against obesity in children [3]. The children of
authoritative parents usually do well in school and are more
likely to become successful in life.
Permissive Parenting
Permissive parents set rules for children, but rarely enforce
them. They often interfere only when a serious problem occurs
to the child. They usually do not discourage the problem
behavior or unscientific choices of children. Kids who
grow up with permissive parents usually have lots of
behavioral problems.
Studies have reported significant correlations between
parental attitudes and child’s food intake as well as eating
behaviour [4]. Parents have the most important role in the
development of children's food preferences. Children of
permissive parents are at greater risk for health problems,
like obesity, because permissive parents do not limit junk
food intake.
Uninvolved Parenting
Uninvolved parents do not spend time with children. Sometimes
they do not meet even the basic needs of children. They expect
children to raise themselves. Children do not get any guidance
from them. Children of uninvolved parents usually have low
self-esteem. They tend to have poor scholastic performance.
They also exhibit frequent emotional and behavioral problems.
Importance of Parent Training Interventions in Child
Development
Parent training interventions are very effective in improving
child development. Developmental disorders in children lead to
significant morbidity in future, if not intervened at the
earliest. Developmental disorders globally cause significant
health burden. Parent training interventions are the key
interventions in the management of developmental disorders of
children. Parent mediated interventions will improve the self
help skills of pre-school children [5]. Infants and toddlers
have specific developmental abilities, which require
interventions that are tailored to each child.
Parent training interventions are effective to support the
learning capacities of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders
[6]. Parent-implemented early intervention lead to improvement
in communicative behaviour of young children with autism
spectrum disorder [7]. Social skills, communication skills and
the socio-emotional functioning of toddlers with autism
spectrum disorder improve with parent training interventions.
Specific skills for improving the reciprocal social
interaction and communication, can be taught effectively
through parent implemented early intervention for young
children with autism spectrum disorders [7].
Parent-implemented imitation intervention is effective for
development of imitation skills in young children with autism
[8].
Parental attitudes and parental commitment have significant
impact in the outcomes of children and adolescents with
learning disorders [9]. Quality of parental involvement
determines the academic success of children.
Parent training interventions are found to be effective in
improving the intellectual abilities of children with
intellectual developmental disorders. Since brain plasticity
is better during infancy and toddler age, early intervention
involving parents, is the best treatment to prevent the
children from becoming permanently disabled [10]. Early
interventions to improve all the self help skills, during the
first 3 years of age will definitely improve the intelligence
of children [11].
Parenting interventions are useful to reduce behavioural
problems of young children and are found to be the best
treatments for young children with disruptive behavioral
disorders [12]. Parenting programmes improve the emotional and
behavioural adjustment of children.
Significance of Effective Parenting in Today’s Electronic
World
Parenting is indeed a challenging job in this age of
television, mobile phones, social networks and electronic
games. The new technological advancements have created new
challenges in parenting. Lack of effective parenting is a
major reason for the increase in developmental and behavioral
disorders in children and adolescents in this technological
world. Inadequate monitoring and improper disciplining can
lead to conduct disorders and emotional disorders in
adolescents. Parents should monitor the media use of children
and protect the children from the negative impact of social
media.
The parents should have the skill of listening and should be
role models for their children. The quality and quantity of
time the parents spend with children is very important in
effective parenting. Parents should become part of children's
everyday world and enjoy spending time with them. Parents
should maintain very good communication with their kids and
appreciate all achievements of children. Parent child
connectedness should be present every day cognitively and
physically. Compassion and connection are necessary to have
good parent child relationship.
Parents should be empathetic with children. Improve the life
skills of children using professional help from experts in
child guidance. Never take the frustrations and stress out on
children. Help children to take on responsibilities. Make the
child understand the consequences of misbehaviors. Try to
improve the self-esteem of the child. Avoid comparing children
with siblings or peer group and also avoid unnecessary
criticisms. Always make sure that children are safe.
Conclusion
Parenting styles significantly influence the behaviour and
well being of children and hence effective parenting is the
need of the hour. Good parenting requires persistence,
patience and knowledge. Effective parenting is crucial in the
academic success of children. Professional guidance in
parenting, from experts in child guidance, is very important
in today’s world to raise brilliant, confident, compassionate,
disciplined, responsible, resilient, self-reliant and socially
skilled children.
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