Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot on social media about authoritative parenting. I didn’t know the name before, but after hearing about it I realized this is pretty much exactly the parenting style that we use in our home. There are a lot of different names and styles of parenting and it can get confusing. Today we are going to dig into the authoritative style of parenting and learn what it is and how to practice it in your own home!
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What is Authoritative Parenting?
So what exactly is authoritative parenting? Authoritative parenting is a parenting style where parents are very warm and loving, but also firm. Authoritative parents are very responsive and reasonable, but they have high expectations and set and enforce rules calmly and fairly.
Some of the characteristics of authoritative parenting are:
- Fair and consistent discipline
- Two way communication
- Appropriate expectations
- Focusses on problem solving
- Natural consequences rather than punishments
- Warm and loving
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How is Authoritative Parenting Different from Other Parenting Styles?
Authoritative parenting is often compared to authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting and uninvolved parenting. Here are the characteristics of these other styles of parenting:
Authoritarian Parenting
- Parents attempt to control kids behavior through punishment
- Children are expected to obey their parents without question
- Kids’ feeling are not taken into consideration
Permissive Parenting
- Parents’ relationship with their kids is more of a friend rather than an authority figure
- There is little attempt at discipline
- Nurturing and warm, but reluctant to impose limits
Uninvolved Parenting
- Little warmth or affection towards children
- Doesn’t set limits on behavior or very few
- Do not meet the emotional needs of their children
What are the Benefits of the Authoritative Parenting Style?
Many experts agree that the authoritative style of parenting is the most effective parenting style. Here are just some of the many reasons why this style of parenting is so beneficial:
- Kids tend to have better relationships with their parents
- Kids may be better able to resist peer pressure
- More responsible and empathetic
- Less chance for substance use in adolescence
- Fewer behavior problems
Related – https://eschooled.com/punishments-vs-consequences-whats-the-difference/
How to Practice Authoritative Parenting
So how do you actually practice authoritative parenting in your home? Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to parenting with this style:
DO:
- Be warm, loving and responsive
- Set and enforce clear limits and boundaries
- Give your children a voice and take their opinions into consideration
- Enforce rules fairly, and explain the reason behind the rules you set
- Model the behavior you wish to see in your child
- Practice managing your emotions and teach your children healthy emotional management skills
DON’T:
- Use threats, bribes or punishments as your primary forms of discipline
- Withdraw affection when your child misbehaves
- Yell to get your kids to do what you want
- Focus on trying to control your kids actions
- Be inconsistent with discipline
Hopefully this article helped explain the authoritative parenting style, and why it can be the best and most effective method for raising kids. Please subscribe to our email list for more!
