What is your parenting style and how it impacts your child

All parents have their own unique style of raising their kids. Forget other parents, those who raise a child together may have their share of differences as to how to raise a child. When should you be lenient? When should you express disappointment? The answers cannot be direct, but introspecting into your current parenting style and judging its appropriateness can help you become a better parent and raise a happy, confident, well-behaved and smart child.

According to experts, there are four major parenting styles:

Authoritarian parents are the most strict ones. If you find yourself running a house and raising kids with strict rules, then you are probably an authoritarian parent.

Authoritarian parents cannot tolerate disobedience. In most cases, they focus more on how obedient is the kid, irrespective of where the obedience stems from. They believe kids should be afraid of their parents and not cross question or talk back.

Kids raised by authoritarian parents often carry deep-seated anger in their mind and heart against their parents. In order to fulfill their desires, these kids often resort to lying to their parents so that they can fulfill their wants.

Authoritative parents have rules but with some flexibility. They believe in growing as a parent and establishing a positive rapport with their kids. However, they are not afraid of becoming the bad guy, when it comes to the kids’ safety and well-being. They keep a watchful eye on their kids.

Children raised with authoritative discipline tend to be sensible, empathetic and well-mannered. They respect authority and have the skills to fathom risks and act accordingly. They also have a good sense of dealing with different kinds of people.

Permissive parents are lenient and want to be friends with their children. They believe the kids should be able to handle their problems by themselves. However, they may or may not prepare their kids well to face their issues. But, the friendly relationship might come in handy as they are more approachable to the children.

Kids who grow up with permissive parents do not appreciate authority and may struggle to cooperate in institutions like school. They are often more confident than their peers, as they are not overly-protected by their parents and have had wider exposure to the outer world. They may struggle with unhealthy eating habits or sleep schedules.


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Uninvolved parents are the least involved in their kids’ lives. This could be due to many reasons such as not being able to fulfill the responsibilities of a parent or struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems.

Children may not receive much parental guidance, nurturing, and attention. They may struggle emotionally and in their other relationships too. They may also have frequent behavior or mood problems and rank low in overall happiness.


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No parent, no matter how great, can be a perfect parent. All parents can go wrong sooner or later, again and then again. The problem essentially is not your parenting mistakes or style, but how you choose to deal with them later. The idea is to raise happy kids who are independent enough to think and care for themselves. The idea is to raise kids who are kind and smart. As parents, many situations are too complex and you may find yourselves confused and guilty for how you acted. However, admitting your mistakes is perhaps the best part a parent can do.

According to studies, authoritative parenting is the best parenting style. With dedication and commitment to becoming a happier, relaxed, caring and gentle parent, you can maintain a positive and healthy relationship with your child. Do not run away from situations that spark fights or disappointments, rather they can serve as an excellent learning experience for both you and your child.