What Is Your Parenting Style?There are a number of parenting styles to consider. As you are forming your own style, you will learn that it changes from infant, then toddler, on to puberty, and even to your adult children. You will find there are many ideas about raising children. No one person really has all the answers. Even more, children who share a home and are raised in the same environment can grow up to have amazingly different personalities than one another. However, psychologists and other social scientists have determined what parenting practices are most effective and are more likely to lead to positive outcomes for children. There is a lot of information about parenting styles available on the internet. So it isn't difficult at all to acquire a broad range of
parenting education.
Remember that parenting is a lot about trial and error. In fact, what works for one child might not for another. 
There are four types of parenting styles: 1. Authoritarian Parenting 2. Authoritative Parenting 3. Permissive Parenting 4. Uninvolved Parenting Authoritarian Parenting - This is the "Just do it or else" style This is a highly dictatorial style. They expect children to obey orders without questioning. If asked to explain, the parent might simply say, "Because I said so." Rules are well defined and breaking them usually results in punishment. Authoritative Parenting - "A no means a no" Like authoritarian parents, authoritative parenting sets clear rules and is firm about discipline. But, this style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are open to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children don’t meet expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. (Suggestion: you may need to ask your child, What part of the word "no" don’t you understand?) Permissive Parenting – “Do anything you want” Parents with this style believe in the lenient or indulgent approach. They have very few demands to make of their children. They rarely discipline their children because they have low expectations of maturity and self-control. Self-regulation follows and confrontation is avoided. Permissive parents are generally nurturing and communicate with their children, often taking on the roll of a friend more than that of a parent. Uninvolved Parenting - "I don't care what you do" Some parents are uninvolved in their children's lives, which in a few cases, borders on neglect. They have few demands and little communication with their children. While these parents fulfill the child's basic needs, they are generally disconnected from their child's life. In extreme cases, these parents may even reject or neglect the needs of their children. The Impact of Parenting Styles
But, no matter what each approach is, it is essential that parents learn to how to blend their styles and be willing to compromise, when necessary, for the benefit of their child. If they don’t, a child can soon become confused and insecure, and more than likely, this will create a negative impact on the positive development of the child.We all have our own ideas or conclusions on what we think works best based on our own experience and values. Research, however, has shown the effects of various parenting styles on children. • Children that have grown up in authoritarian settings tend to show average performance in school but lack spontaneity, effective social skills, and self-confidence. This can lead to children who are obedient and capable, but they rank lower in happiness, social competence and self-esteem. • Children who are brought up by authoritative parents, grow up to become more responsible. They easily adjust to situations that demand cooperation and they tend to result in children who are happy, capable, and successful. • Children with permissive parents, interestingly, tend to be more creative, but some research indicates they may develop behavioral problems as they grow up because they do not accept responsibility. Sadly, these children often rank low in happiness and self-regulation. They are more likely to experience problems with authority and are more likely to perform poorly in school. • Children with uninvolved parents typically perform poorly at school, tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem, and are less competent than their peers. You may be wondering why everyone doesn’t just stick with the “authoritative” parenting style, since it seems the most likely to produce happy, confident, and capable children. From my parenting experience, I would advise you to embrace consistency and always be open to learning new things. Parenting Education
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