Famous psychologist Dr. Dianna Baumrind categorized parenting styles into four groups. One of them is the authoritative parenting style.
In this parenting style, parents put their children first and strike a healthy balance between being receptive and taxing.
It illustrates how authoritative parents are open to hearing their children’s worries and concerns while yet expecting their kids to abide by the standards they set.
Additionally, according to Dr. Baumrind, parenting should result in the development of a healthy child who has strong character traits and solid cognitive ability.
In light of this, authoritative parenting is regarded as one of the most fantastic parenting styles. To learn more about authoritative parenting, its advantages, and the qualities that make it the most equitable, keep reading.
We also have articles on:
- Why Do My Parents Hate Me? 10 Signs To Watch Out
- When To Leave Because Of Stepchild: (6 Signs to Disengage!)
- How To Deal With Ungrateful Stepchildren (💯 Proven Method)
Table of Contents
Brief History of Parenting Style
Dianna Baumrind, a developmental psychologist, identified four parenting approaches in the 1960s: authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful and permissive. Her studies with preschool-aged children served as the basis for these studies.
Some people refer to the authoritative parenting approach as “democratic.” It entails a child-centric strategy in which parents have high expectations for their kids and support them with guidance and direction.
Research recommends that parents flexibly implement parenting techniques based on their objectives and each child’s particular behaviors.
Traditionally, the authoritative parenting style has been recognized as the most effective and beneficial to a child.
What Is the Authoritative Parenting Style?
High sensitivity and great expectations are the hallmarks of an authoritative parenting style.
Authoritative parents do set high standards for their children while being loving and sensitive to their emotional needs. They impose restrictions and uphold the limits with remarkable consistency.
After decades of study, specialists in child development have concluded that among the four Baumrind parenting philosophies, authoritative parenting is the most effective.
This parenting approach usually results in children who do the best.
What are the Features of an Authoritative Parenting Style
According to Baumrind, authoritative parents have a few traits in common. Features they display include:
1. Being obstinate and responsive
Authoritative parents require that their kids live up to their expectations. They are clear about their goals and convey them to their child.
They check to see if the child is making progress toward the objective. Given that they consider the child’s capacity to fulfill them, their demands are fair.
While strict about their children achieving the objective, they are equally attentive to any difficulties they may encounter. They assist them in overcoming obstacles.
2. Communication
The parenting style promotes communication. The tasks are made simpler by verbal communication between parents and children.
Children can grasp why something needs to be done in a certain way when parents adjust the house rules and provide the justification for them.
It will encourage children to abide by the rules rather than challenge them.
Parents also ask their kids for their opinions, enabling them to discuss things they disagree with. An honest conversation will prevent family secrets.
3. Comprehension
Authoritative parents participate in their children’s development and progress. They support the children’s academics and extracurricular pursuits.
They evaluate their opportunities, strengths and weaknesses, and the good and bad aspects of their behavior.
4. Criticism and Appreciation
Parents are not afraid to correct their children’s misbehavior or lax attitude in an assertive manner.
They draw attention to the child’s carelessness or lack of interest in his studies or extracurricular activities.
They are also not afraid to compliment the child on their wondrous deeds or prod them to do better.
5. Give Children Freedom, but Monitor Them
Authoritative parenting relies on having faith in their children.
The parents believe that for their children to be capable of making some minor decisions independently, they should be given a certain amount of freedom.
But, they are also conscious that giving a child complete independence will harm the child.
To prevent them from getting off track, they allow them to be accessible yet watch what they do. Also, freedom is phased-in and age-appropriate.
6. Love and Boundaries
Authoritative parents show their love for their kids. Especially throughout their adolescent years, when they are most susceptible to vices, this reassures the children.
You also define the boundaries that they are not allowed to go beyond.
Your affection will bind them, and the boundaries will keep them from taking the wrong turn because they understand that you will not be pleased with what they do.
They would exercise caution not to harm you and rob themselves of your love.
7. Spend Time with their Kids
Families who adhere to an authoritative parenting style make time for one another. Parents watch out that they are not obnoxiously preoccupied at work to neglect their kids.
Kids learn the value of developing familial ties through this. For instance, you ensure the TV is off and the phones are put away at dinner because this is an excellent time for the family to get together and catch up on each other’s days.
The advantages of an authoritative parenting style
Good parenting benefits the entire family greatly, not just the kids. Following are a few advantages of authoritative parenting:
1. Harmony
Due to the precise specifications, obligations, and regulations, parents can prevent unpleasant situations with their children at home.
Parents are not stern, and children are not impolite. Instead of shouting at one another, they engage in an open discussion about contentious matters.
The nurturing environment at home contributes to the child’s growth into a better person who is considerate of others.
2. An act of stability
Love and discipline are in harmony with one another. Parents must avoid pampering their children by giving them too much attention.
They restore the equilibrium when they notice it is being lost occasionally.
3. Willingness to work hard
Parents who support their children at home inspire them to work hard and achieve better results.
They acknowledge the child’s effort and judge his accomplishment based on his sincerity in trying his best rather than on the outcome.
4. Children who are assertive and goal-oriented
When they are older, children will learn how to push themselves.
As a result of witnessing their parents doing it to them, they will know how to say “no” without causing harm to others.
They take charge of the circumstance because they feel competent to handle it.
5. Positive discipline
In cases where a child veers off the course, parents do not use heavy penalties. But, they do not disregard their mistakes either.
Instead, they constructively reprimand them, sparing the child any emotional harm while still getting their point across. It aids in the child realizing their errors.
6. Progressing approach to parenting
When parents gain experience and make corrections due to their mistakes, parenting changes with time.
When the child develops from a toddler to a youngster to a teenager, it also changes. They are adaptable in their approach to setting age-appropriate standards.
7. A solid academic record
Children raised in this style perform well in school because their parents are involved in their learning, participate in school events, offer guidance when necessary, and aid their children as needed.
8. Less likelihood of addiction
Because parents continually watch over their children and make an effort to get to know them better, children who grow up in a structured environment are less likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
Also, they are less likely to engage in antisocial behavior. When something goes wrong, parents may tell by how their children behave.
The drawbacks of the authoritative parenting style
The following are some drawbacks of the authoritative parenting style:
1. A firm reliance on rules
The family may have a criterion for everything due to their firm reliance on rules. If there isn’t a stated regulation for a particular context, they won’t know what to do.
2. Low self-esteem
If a child’s parenting style leans more towards being demanding and less responsive, they may develop low levels of self-esteem.
3. Encourage children to rebel
If you value them and constantly ask for their input, they might believe they are too important to listen to you.
By the time they are teenagers, they could have an inflated sense of self-worth that causes them to rebel at home.
4. Added responsibility for parents
Because they must establish a course of action for each circumstance, authoritative parenting may place additional responsibility on parents.
Before a decision is made, various debates may make it very difficult.
5. Hard to deal with a stubborn child
This parenting approach supposes that kids are just as amiable as their parents.
It need not always be the case because children can exhibit these traits due to various outside factors, including their peers, their experiences in school, and general societal norms.
The healthy growth of a child requires a pleasant environment at home. A child with a supportive mother, father, and sibling has the emotional fortitude to navigate challenging circumstances.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the secret to being an authoritative parent is to make an effort to communicate with your child and set a positive example for them.
You might find it helpful to do that occasionally by soliciting assistance from your partner, family, friends, or even a professional.
With an authoritative parenting style, you can give your children the rules and expectations they need to grow into responsible individuals while showing them the affection, tolerance, warmth, and support they require.
It’s not always the most straightforward parenting approach, but with time, it can help you and your child form a strong, respectful, and loving bond.
