Parenting Styles

張貼日期：Jun 05, 2017 2:16:35 PM

Parenting Styles

Abby Yeh

Parents play an important role in children’s lives. Their behavior may have a great effect on their children. Also, the discipline mode that parents choose can even influence their children’s moods and temperament into adulthood. In my opinion, parenting styles can be divided into four different types: democratic parenting, authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting, and indifferent parenting.

The first type is democratic parents who set rules for their children but explain why they do so and they are willing to listen to children’s thoughts.When children face setbacks, this kind of parents will give them a hand to express love and concern for them. They also replace punishment with encouragement if children do not meet their expectations. Children who grow up in this parenting style tend to be confident, responsible, and good at expressing their opinions and making decisions.

The second type is authoritarian parents who value rules and will punish children if they do not meet their expectations. This kind of parents also establish rules, but they expect children to follow the strict rules to control them. In addition, they give little concern to their children, and seldom listen to their thoughts. Their children may have good accomplishments but they often have little confidence and may be distrustful of others.

The third type is permissive parents who express concern to their children, but lack discipline for them. They may encourage children to talk with them about their problems that they face, but they hardly discipline them when they make mistakes. The relationship between this kind of parents and their children is like that between friends. But because of lack of guidance, the children often make reckless decisions and tend to lack self-control. 

The fourth type is indifferent parents who have little care about their children and are uninvolved in their growth. They are often not responsive and have little communication with their kids. They tend to have little knowledge of what their children are doing. In this style of parenting, children are likely to have behavioral problems and poor learning performance.

Accordingly, I will teach my child with a democratic parenting style in the future. In my opinion, the democratic parenting style can make children be willing to express their thoughts and feelings. Listening to children is important because I can know whether I understand my child’s thinking and become close to him or her. And also, by listening to my child, I can know if I teach him or her in a proper way.