Parents interacting with their children

The Best Parenting Style

The Best Parenting Style

Which is the Best Parent According to Science.

 

Science suggests different parenting styles and certain child-rearing methods are better than others when it comes to raising well-adjusted, self-sufficient children. I believe it certainly wasn’t my father’s parenting way.  When my father (a physician) said jump, we would say: “how high?” I tried this parenting style on my own children and it didn’t work.  Here is what I found.

Parenting is so hard and there are so many choices to make, and it seems like everyone has an opinion on what you should do. Should you be strict or lenient? Should you be hands-on or let your child explore the world on their own? Turns out, science has some answers for us. Different parenting styles and child-rearing methods are better than others when it comes to raising well-adjusted, self-sufficient children. In this blog post, we will take a look at the research and find out which methods are most successful!  But before we start take this quick parenting quiz and identify your own style: Parenting Quiz

Parenting styles can be divided into four categories:, authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful. Each style has its own benefits and drawbacks when it comes to raising children.

The authoritative parenting style is the most recommended parenting style according to science. This parenting style is characterized by high levels of warmth and nurturance, along with firm limits and expectations. Parents who use this parenting style are usually responsive to their children’s needs but also set clear rules and boundaries.

According to research, the authoritarian parenting style is actually not one of the most successful. This parenting style is characterized by strict rules and expectations, and a high level of discipline. Parents who use this parenting style often have children who are obedient and successful in school. Authoritarian parents are strict and demanding, often using punishment as a way to get their kids to behave. This parenting style is not typically associated with positive outcomes in children.

Another parenting style that has been found to be ineffective is permissive parenting. Permissive parents don’t have any rules or limits, they are lenient and don’t enforce discipline. More often than not, permissive parenting leads to disruptive children who lack social skills and respect for others. According to a study in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology that followed more than 200 families over the course of eight years, “permissive parenting was associated with lower social competence and greater problem behavior” in children ages three to 11.

The last parenting style is the neglectful parenting style. This parenting style has little or no warmth, support, and communication with their children. Parents provide plenty of food, clothing, and shelter but they do not involve themselves in their child’s life at all. A neglectful parent will not get involved with school issues unless it is a major problem that must be addressed. Children in this parenting style often have low self-esteem and perform poorly in school.  At times, mental health issues are seen in these families.

So, what is the best parenting style? The answer may not be as clear-cut as you think. However, research seems to suggest that the authoritative parenting style is most effective in bringing up children that later become successful adults. If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at how to parent effectively, check out my online masterclass on “Understanding Healthy Parenting.” In this masterclass, I discuss these four main parenting styles and provide concrete tips for implementing each one. It takes time and effort to learn how best to parent your child – but it’s definitely worth it!

Parenting is a learning process that happens over time as you get to know your child and the parenting style they respond best to. It also takes time for parents to learn their parenting style, some find it easy whilst others find it more difficult. Whichever parenting style you choose, the most important thing is that both parents are on board and support each other in their parenting journey.

In conclusion, there are several different parenting styles, but children do best if they are brought up with consistency. This means that parenting styles used by both parents should be similar. When parenting is inconsistent children can become confused and insecure.

If you would like to learn more about different parenting styles, please visit our website where we have lots of helpful articles and information, and consider joining our Parenting Masterclass.