Category: Parenting

Parents’ influences on children’s development have long piqued the curiosity of developmental psychologists. Finding true cause-and-effect correlations between individual parental acts and children’s later conduct, on the other hand, is extremely challenging.

Some youngsters raised in vastly different surroundings can develop astonishingly similar personalities later in life. On the other hand, Children who share a house and are reared in the same environment can create different personalities as adults.

The parenting style affects child development and those effects on children can be seen throughout their lives. Family functioning is also affected by the types of parenting that the parents follow. These factors affect child development and the child’s temperament as well. Do you know about parenting styles which are mostly encouraged in Modern America?

Also, today’s digital world has changed the way of parenting to a huge extent. Lots of parents have improvised their parenting by using various parental control apps that are used to track and monitor online activities of children. It is also used to track social media activities, monitor Snapchat, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber,etc.

Despite these obstacles, academics have proposed that parenting styles and their consequences on children are linked, and some researchers believe these effects persist until adulthood. This article dives into how parenting affects child development in depth with types of parenting and their effect on child development.

The Four Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind, a psychologist, researched over 100 preschool-aged children in the 1960s. She found certain key aspects of parenting through naturalistic observation, parental interviews, and other study approaches.

Discipline tactics, warmth and nurturing, communication styles, and maturity and control expectations are among these factors. Even though the common goal for parents is to have a positive impact in their child’s well being, Baumrind proposed that most parents have one of three parenting styles based on these dimensions.

Maccoby and Martin’s later studies proposed introducing a fourth parenting style. Each of these has a different impact on the behavior of children. By studying the types of parenting styles we can know How parenting affects child development at various levels.

1.  Authoritarian Parenting

Children are expected to follow the rigorous restrictions established by the parents under this parenting style. Failure to observe such guidelines is frequently met with retaliation. Authoritarian parents never explain the reasons for these rules. If pressed, the parent may respond, “Because I said so.”

Many parents are not very sensitive to their children despite their great expectations. They want their children to behave admirably and avoid making mistakes, but they give very little guidance on what they should do or avoid in the future. Mistakes are punished, often harshly, but their progeny are frequently left wondering what went wrong.

These parents, according to Baumrind, are “obedience- and status-oriented, and want their directives to be followed without question.” They are frequently labeled as autocratic and overbearing. “Spare the rod, pamper the child” is their philosophy. Children are expected to obey without inquiry.

2.     Authoritative Parenting

An authoritative parenting style, like authoritarian parenting, establishes rules and principles for their children to follow. This parenting method, on the other hand, is far more democratic.

Authoritative parents respond to their children’s queries and are willing to listen to them. These parents have high expectations for their children, but they treat them with kindness, provide feedback, and provide enough support. When their children do not reach their parents’ standards, they are more loving and forgiving than harsh.

According to Baumrind, these parents “Parents should keep an eye on their children’s behavior and instill clear expectations. They are aggressive, but not overbearing or confining. Rather than being punitive, their disciplinary tactics are supportive. They want their children to be aggressive and socially responsible, as well as self-controlled and cooperative.”

Children of authoritative parents benefit from expectation and support in developing abilities like independence, self-control, and self-regulation.

3.     Permissive Parenting

Permissive parents, often known as indulgent parents, place few restrictions on their children. Because they have low expectations of maturity and self-control, these parents rarely reprimand their children.

Permissive parents, according to Baumrind, “They’re more accommodating than demanding. They are unconventional and lenient, requiring no adult behavior, allowing for a lot of self-control, and avoiding confrontation.”

Permissive parents are often loving and communicative with their children, and they frequently assume the role of a friend rather than a parent.

4.     Uninvolved Parenting

In addition to Baumrind’s three basic parenting styles, Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin, psychologists, proposed a fourth: uninvolved or neglectful parenting. Few demands, poor responsiveness, and limited communication describe an uninvolved parenting style.

While these parents meet their children’s fundamental necessities, they are often absent from their children’s lives. They may ensure that their children are fed and housed, but they provide little to no rules, guidance, structure, or support. These parents may even reject or ignore their children’s needs in other situations.

The Impact of Parenting Styles

What impact do various parenting methods have on children’s growth and development? Researchers have done a variety of studies on the effects of parenting styles on children and Baumrind’s first study of 100 preschool children. The following are some of the findings:

• Authoritarian parenting techniques produce obedient and capable children, but they are less happy, socially competent, and have low self-esteem.
• Authoritative parenting techniques are likely to produce happy, capable, and successful children.
• Permissive parenting frequently leads to children who are unhappy and lack self-control. These children are more prone to have issues with authority and have low academic performance.
• Parenting approaches that are uninvolved rank lowest across all life domains. These kids have poor self-control, and low self-esteem, and are less capable than their peers.
  

“Kids don’t do what you say. They do what they see.
How you live your life is their example.”
— Tim Ferriss

Authoritative Parenting Has Its Benefits

Children are more likely to follow their parents’ directions if viewed as sensible, fair, and just. Furthermore, because these parents supply both rules and justifications, their children are much more likely to internalize the lessons. The authoritative parenting style can shed some light on how parenting affects child development as well.

Rather than just following the rules out of fear of punishment (as with authoritarian parents), authoritative children can know why the rules exist, realize that they are fair and appropriate, and attempt to follow them to satisfy their own internalized sense of right and wrong.

Individual parents’ parenting styles also mix to form a unique blend in each family. For example, the mother may have an authoritative demeanor, but the father may have a more lenient behavior.

This can occasionally result in a jumble of signals. Parents must learn to collaborate and mix their different parenting styles to establish a unified parenting strategy.

Limitations and Criticisms of Parenting Style Research

Correlational research is useful for detecting links between variables but cannot demonstrate conclusive cause-and-effect relationships, and is used to link parenting methods with behavior. While there is evidence that a certain parenting style is connected to a particular pattern of behavior, other essential factors such as a child’s temperament can also play a significant impact.

There’s also evidence that a child’s conduct affects parenting techniques. According to a study released in 2006, parents of children who demonstrated challenging behavior began to lose parental control over time.

These findings show that children misbehave not because their parents were overly permissive, but because parents of difficult or violent children gave up trying to govern their children.

The researchers also pointed out that the links between parenting styles and behaviors aren’t always strong.  Many times, the expected child outcomes do not occur; authoritarian parents have children who are disobedient or participate in delinquent behavior, whereas permissive parents have children who are self-assured and academically successful.

Parenting practices and child outcomes are influenced by cultural influences as well. In his book Essentials of Psychology, author Douglas Bernstein argues, “There is no universally “optimal” way of parenting.” Authoritative parenting, which has been connected to positive results in European American households, is not associated with improved school performance in African American or Asian American children.”

Read why lawnmower parenting is so detrimental to children.

Conclusion

Parents don’t always fall into one of these categories, so don’t be discouraged if you have periods or regions where you’re more permissive and times when you’re more authoritative. It’s difficult to maintain consistency while juggling life and parenthood. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed as a parent. That isn’t helpful.

However, research shows that authoritative parenting is the most effective parenting style. However, even if you identify more with other parenting styles, you can take measures to become a more authoritative parent. With the knowledge of parenting styles, we can know how parenting affects child development in detail with cause and effect as well.

You can keep a pleasant relationship with your child while still healthily establishing your authority if you are dedicated and committed to being the best parent you can be. Your youngster will profit from your assertive manner in the long run.

Do you have a child who is struggling with fine motor skills? If so, you are not alone. Many children have difficulty with tasks that require precise movement of the hands and fingers. This can be frustrating for both the child and the parents, however, there are things that you can do to help your child improve these skills.

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips that can help your child achieve success in this area!

Play Dough

One great way to help your child improve their fine motor skills is through the use of play dough. Play dough is a great tool for building strength and dexterity in the hands and fingers. It can also be used to create fun shapes and figures, which can help keep your child engaged. If you don’t have play dough at home, you can easily make your own with just a few ingredients.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great way to help your child develop fine motor skills. They require the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers to manipulate the pieces, and they also help with problem-solving and concentration. Start with simple puzzles with just a few pieces, and progress to more challenging ones as your child’s skills improve. You can also try puzzle games on your smartphone or tablet. Look for ones that have large pieces or are designed specifically for young children.

Coloring

Coloring is a great way to help improve your child’s fine motor skills. It requires the use of both hands and fingers to grip the crayon, gel pen, or pencil and color in the lines. This helps to develop the muscles in their hands and fingers. Encourage your child to use colored pencils, markers, and gel pens to color entire pages from start to finish. You can also have them color with crayons on construction paper to make different shapes and patterns. As they color, be sure to praise their efforts and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Painting

One activity you can do to help your child develop their fine motor skills is painting. Painting is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination as well as help with grip and control. Try using different-sized paintbrushes or even painting with toothpicks! You can also have your child try paint by numbers or different surfaces such as paper, cardboard, or even pumpkins. Whatever you do, make sure to have fun and be creative!

Playing With Sand

One way to help your child develop fine motor skills is by playing with sand. This can be done at the beach, in a sandbox, or even with kinetic sand. Playing with sand helps improve dexterity and hand-eye coordination. It also helps children learn how to use both hands together to complete a task.

Plus, it’s just plain fun! So next time you’re at the beach or sandbox, take some time to play with your child and help them develop their fine motor skills. If you don’t have access to a beach or sandbox, there are plenty of other ways to help your child develop fine motor skills.

There are many different ways you can help your child develop fine motor skills. These are just a few suggestions to get you started; remember to be creative and have fun! And most importantly, praise your child’s efforts and encourage them to keep up the good work!

Cutting With Scissors

When your child is cutting with scissors, it is important to make sure that they are using the proper grip. The index finger and middle finger should be placed on either side of the blade, with the thumb resting on top of the blade. The pinky finger and ring finger should be curled under the hand.

Help your child to keep their thumb up and their fingers close together as they cut. It is also important to make sure that your child is using the right type of scissors for their age and ability. If they are struggling with regular scissors, try getting them a pair of safety scissors or grip scissors.

Another way to help your child develop their fine motor skills is by having them trace and cut out shapes. You can start with simple shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. Once they get the hang of it, you can move on to more complex shapes. You can also try having them trace lines of different widths. This will help them to develop their control and coordination.

Playing With Squishies

One way you can help your child develop their fine motor skills is by having them play with squishies. Squishies are great for helping children grip and hold onto objects. Plus, they’re really fun to squeeze! Give your child a few different different types to play with and see how they do, you may be surprised at how much they enjoy it!  Squishes have also been known to be therapeutic for kids.

Being a parent is one of the most challenging jobs in the world. You need a lot of patience and follow-up to ensure that you get through the most important (and sometimes hardest) years with your child in one piece. One of the most challenging lessons in life is teaching kids to do the right thing.

If they know that they don’t have to work, they could get very sloppy in their work habits while doing tasks and activities around the home.  This article aims to do the opposite; it will provide helpful tips and tricks on working with your child to establish and reinforce positive behaviors.

Praise your child for being good.

The easiest way to get your child to act in a particular manner is to praise them. That does not mean you must give them anything cookie every time they do something right, but you must reinforce the behavior with genuine appreciation. Children are often sensitive to their parent’s approval, and they look at their parents as role models.

To make them kind, be kind yourself. If you want to share, share things with them. Positivity breeds positivity, and so on. Children love attention and will do whatever it takes to get it—if that means being good, then they’re more likely going to try hard in order not only to please you but also to boost their self-esteem and confidence as well.

Give rewards for good behavior.

Rewards are a great way to incentivize good behavior. Giving your child rewards for acting will encourage them to repeat that behavior in the future. You should steer away from using punishments as much as possible. However, even if you must punish, it is still important to reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. It is hard for children to behave well all the time, so frequent rewards will help them make progress and continue on their path of improvement.

When choosing what to use as rewards, consider what your child likes or wants most. A reward chart can help reinforce this new system as well! While parents may think that toys or candy are good ways to incentivize acts like listening and being kind, these rewards start losing meaning quickly. Some parents prefer rewarding things like quality time with family members or getting out of chores when they complete their daily goals.

Use stickers to encourage positive behaviors and keep track of positive days without a tantrum.

Stickers can make a big difference. It would help if you used them.

Choosing the correct stickers is critical. Maybe they should be something your child likes.

They should be the kind of thing that makes your child want to do good behavior, and when they get them, it’s a big deal.

Then you need to choose what behaviors you want to encourage with stickers: no tantrums, listening without yelling, doing what you’re told without being told 1,000 times?

Try using stickers to help your child know how good they’re doing day after day. That will make them excited about doing good behavior and earning their sticker reward.

 Give your child age-appropriate chores.

Naturally, adults don’t have to do chores with their kids all the time—but sometimes we need to enforce a sense of responsibility and independence in our kids. The sooner we start helping our children learn how to behave themselves, the better off we’ll be as adults when they grow up. We all know that if we don’t teach our kids something early, they might never pick it up later on. To that end, chores are an essential tool in teaching small changes in behavior: showing them what it means to take care of oneself and others.

Let’s face it: most people these days are busy. Between work, family obligations, hobbies (or lack thereof), and even personal grooming—who’s got time for housework? If you cannot afford a maid service, you will have to depend on your good habits of cleaning the kitchen and bathroom multiple times a week. It will help keep things organized and ensure that your kids can do their homework without fighting over the mess or having a tantrum.

Let your child have input into rules and consequences.

As the parent, you are ultimately responsible for setting the rules and consequences. However, by letting your child have input into them and considering their point of view, they will most likely be more willing to follow the rules over time.

In addition to being more receptive to guidelines if they have a say in them, children will also benefit from feeling that their opinion is valued. Giving a child some ownership over the rules can increase their confidence and decrease negative behaviors stemming from feelings of inadequacy or stress.

Finally, this approach helps foster independence in children as well as responsibility. For example, your teenager won’t always have someone watching over her shoulder when she’s a college student living on her own for the first time. Suppose she has developed a sense of responsibility through participating in decisions that affect her life daily at home with you now. In that case, she will be better prepared for adulthood later on.

Encourage your child to make their own decisions.

Let your child make some decisions. It is essential because it allows them to become a confident and independent adult with the ability to make good choices. Some of the most significant decisions in one’s life include what career path one chooses, whether or not to get married, and when to have children. As a parent, you want your child to grow up and be capable of making their own decisions well into adulthood.

You can encourage your child to make several small decisions on their own, starting at an early age. Children can do to be more in control of their lives, including choosing what to wear, coming up with after-school activities, picking out snacks based on nutritional value, and doing homework instead of playing games on their phones.

Although your child will make mistakes along the way, as we all do when learning how to become independent adults, you are there for them every step until they become old enough to take care of themselves without assistance from others. You can help guide them by asking open-ended questions about why he/or they made confident choices so that he/or they can identify potential problems before they happen.

Acknowledge their efforts.

Children need acknowledgment, but not just in the form of rewards. If your child is crying because he did not get an ice cream cone, acknowledge his efforts to stand up for himself when it also means standing up to you, even if you are the one who did not give him what he wanted.

Even if your child’s behavior does not result in a favorable outcome, praise them for their efforts. For instance, if a child tries to help clean up around the house but does not put away her toys correctly or breaks something during their attempt to help out, praise her effort instead of lecturing her on what she should have done differently.

Celebrate big and small wins.

Celebrate big and small wins. Celebrating will reinforce positive behavior and give your child the much-needed encouragement to keep up the excellent work. But it’s not just the significant milestones that should be celebrated—even the littlest successes are worth a round of applause. A successful potty training session, getting dressed without complaining, or going to bed on time are all causes for celebration. You can choose to celebrate with a special meal, a trip to the park, or by having fun as a family with a game night or movie marathon. And don’t forget about you! A long-overdue spa day is definitely in order after weeks of handling your little one’s tantrums.

Children may have some trouble behaving well, but you can help them learn that breaking rules don’t benefit them.

If you’re not an experienced parent, you may feel like you’ve failed the first few times your child makes a mistake. But remember, mistakes are inevitable. There may be more mistakes than successes in parenting.

It’s important not to lose perspective when your child misbehaves or does something wrong. It will happen at some point; it’s normal for children to make mistakes from time to time.

Let them know how their actions affect you instead of taking your anger on them. Remember that every bad thing they do has a positive side: they learn that not everything is okay, and they try harder next time to avoid making the same mistake again.

Parents can do things to help their children behave well, including teaching them how to say no and teaching them to clean up after themselves immediately. This way, others won’t have to clean up for themselves, and they can learn to be responsible for themselves.

Author bio

Andrea Gibbs is the Content Manager at SpringHive Web Agency, where she helps create content for their clients’ blogs and websites. She is currently a blog contributor at Montessori Academy, a blog dedicated to helping parents with the ins and outs of parenting children within the Montessori tradition. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog.

The structure of the traditional family has seen great changes over the past few decades, with single-parent households becoming increasingly common. This shift requires a closer look at of how children raised in these environments are uniquely affected. Understanding these effects is important for providing the necessary support and resources.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27% of all families with children are headed by a single parent. While DoULike statistics show that 47% of U.S. adults believe that single motherhood is bad for society.  Although children of single parents are less likely to be stigmatized, many are still at risk for certain economic, psychological, and development problems. But, it isn’t all negative.

Negative Effects for Children of Single Parents

No child is fated for a difficult life just because they’re raised by a single parent. However, children who grow up in a single parent household are more at risk for the following.

Economic Hardships

Children in single-parent homes are more vulnerable to economic shifts since only one family member can contribute to finances. Single parents may feel frightened, frustrated, or stressed by the difference between their lives and their friends, emotions that could rub off on the child.

Single parents can live a frugal lifestyle, automate their finances, and slowly build up savings to reduce economic hardships. By investing in life insurance for single parents you can cover various kinds of living expenses, such as education, household maintenance, and childcare.

Developmental Problems

Children of single parents are more likely to fall behind in school than their peers. They tend to get lower grades, act out, and have high rates of absenteeism. Drop-out rates, aggression, and anxiety are also more common in single parent homes, and the effects can be long-lasting.

There are a few ways single parents can minimize developmental problems. For one, they can develop a consistent parenting style that involves regular routines. Single parents who have or can develop a robust network of social support are better equipped at helping their children.

Psychological Effects

A study conducted in Sweden found that children from single-parent families had twice the incidence of depression, mental illnesses, and alcohol abuse problems when compared to two-parent homes. Feelings of guilt or abandonment are typical causes.

It’s possible to protect children from these risk factors by shielding them from parental conflict. Don’t ask children to take sides. Speak to children about why single-parenting is the best option for the family and pay attention to their feelings. Try to accentuate the positives of the situation.

Positive Effects for Children of Single Parents

A lot of media surrounding single parenting focuses on the negative, but there are several advantages of going solo. Being a single parent can offer several benefits to children.

Fewer Arguments

Children are aware when something is off, even if parents hide the negative realities of their relationships. When children are aware that one of their parents is unhappy or being abused, they’ll often suffer from similar issues as they would growing up with a neglectful single parent.

However, single parents can minimize the effect this parenting style has on their children, but they can’t change how another person impacts their child. Therefore, it’s often better for parents to remove their children from this situation, so both parties can feel safer and more secure.

Closer Relationships

Parents who stay in an environment that’s physically or emotionally taxing will have a hard time connecting to their children. That’s because the parent is often too tired or emotionally impaired at the end of the day to develop a strong relationship foundation with their children.

However, children of single parents often spend more positive interaction time with their mothers or fathers. Since single parents can reserve their love and attention strictly for their children, there’s a high possibility that they’ll develop a tight-knit bond with each other.

Stronger Independence

When children live in single-parent households, they’ll take on more responsibility. They quickly notice that their parent is busy juggling work and family, so they’ll either start doing household chores themselves or be asked to help out. Either way, they learn how to be more independent.

Raising independent children is essential, but independence looks different at each age. Most children as young as 8 can help prepare dinner, wash dishes, and vacuum the home. Plus, independent children are less likely to spend their free time watching TV or on the computer.