4 broad types of parenting styles and how they impact children

The bond between every parent and child is unique. The level of understanding, attachment and involvement differs from one person to another. For the same reasons, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to raising and caring for a little one. While there is no completely right or wrong way to parent, experts have identified some common parenting styles that people follow. The categorisation is based on the amount of control and support parents try to exercise. As per experts, each parenting style has its pros and cons and can have a deep impact on a child's psychological development. Here are 4 major parenting styles and their impact on kids.

In this style of parenting, parents set a high standard for the kids and expect them to follow it without questioning them. The expectations to attain the objective are quite high with limited flexibility. Authoritarian parents do not believe in asking their kids for inputs. These kinds of parents believe in strict punishment for breaking rules. Kids nurtured by strict authoritarian parents are disciplined and tend to follow rules most of the time. But this also makes them hostile towards their parents. They may suffer from low self-esteem and might often feel withdrawn, depressed or afraid.

There is a huge difference between authoritarian and authoritative parenting. Even in this, parents set a high standard for their kids, but also help and guide them to achieve their objectives. They set rules and expect their kids to follow, but are flexible with it. Authoritative parents do not believe in punishing their child for disciplining them or breaking the rule. They are responsive to their children, willing to listen to questions and always consider their little one's feelings. These kinds of parents strive hard to be firm as well as warm and supportive. Kids raised by authoritative parents mostly do exceptionally well academically and socially. Studies suggest these kids are more happy, independent, self-controlled, and achievement-oriented.

Permissive parents do not believe in enforcing rules on their kids. They allow their kids to follow their heart and provide limited guidance or direction. They do not portray themselves as an authoritative figure to their kids but try to be more friendly. In this, parents are also less demanding and mostly have an open conversation with their kids. Children of permissive parents aren’t easily bossed around, are free thinkers and are confident in whatever they do. But they also lack discipline and tend to do poorly in academics.

Uninvolved or Neglectful parents give a lot of freedom to their kids and are basically absent from their life. They are unresponsive to their kids’ needs and so is considered as the most harmful parenting style. Some parents make a conscious decision to parent this way, while others are just less interested or are not sure how to raise their kid. They do not provide any guidance to their children, do not discipline them and even engage in limited communication. Kids of unresponsive parents tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem, and are less competent than others. Lack of care even increases the risk of mental health issues and substance abuse.