A parenting style can be thought of as a method used by parents to raise their children. It influences the relationship the parent has with the child and also impacts the child’s behavior. Parenting styles can determine how the child views the outside world and the values that they have. Which parenting style is most encouraged in modern America?
There are different types of parenting styles each with its pros and cons. The one you choose will depend on your outlook on life, philosophy, and values. Let’s have a look!
The Different Parenting Styles
Authoritarian style
Here the parent enforces his rules strictly and the child isn’t given a chance to air their option. They are simply expected to follow what they are told to the letter.
Failure results in the child being reprimanded for disobedience.
Authoritarian parenting style can be thought of as ruling with an iron fist and the parent\’s words are law in the house.
The downside with this type of parenting is that since the child grows up with their views and opinions not heard, they are more likely to develop self-esteem issues. They may also tend to be hostile or aggressive to others caused by the anger that they have towards their parents.
Authoritative
This style of parenting seeks to include the child in the decision-making process. The parent listens to the opinions and views of the child. The final decision however remains with the parent. The key to this type of parenting is a willingness to compromise.
Unlike authoritarian parents, children of authoritative parents tend to have great self-esteem and are more likely to become responsible adults. This is because they excel at evaluating situations on their own and deciding on the best course of action.
Permissive Parenting
This type of parenting style is characterized by giving kids the freedom to do what they want and to make their own choices and decisions. There are no strict guidelines or rules. And even where there are rules, the parent often fails to enforce those rules.
The parents are forgiving when the kids make mistakes and say “kids will be kids”.
The downside is that permissive parenting results in kids that have issues with following rules. The kids also tend to be sad and have low self-esteem.
Uninvolved parenting
As the name suggests, uninvolved parents will not take any time to be involved in the lives of their kids. They don’t ask about homework. And while they may enforce rules from time to time, for the most part, they will not spend much time with the child.
Such children are likely to grow up with self-esteem issues.
The Parenting Style That is Most Encouraged in Modern America:
Among the four main parenting styles, authoritative parenting is most preferred in modern-day America. Here, children are given rules and boundaries, but their opinion is also considered. As a result, children are more self-confident and more emotionally intelligent.
Advantage of the Authoritative Parenting Style
One of the main advantages of authoritative parenting is that it teaches children to follow rules without being overly harsh on them. Because of this, they are also more likely to be law-abiding citizens when they grow up.
This parenting style can also help instill leadership skills in the child.
That said, it is important to note that there are different cultures in the United States and each will have its preferred style based on its values. For instance, Asian Americans typically want their children to excel in school. Because those parents are likely to be more authoritarian.
Kids Benefit From The Authoritative Parenting Style
Simply put, there are many benefits of the authoritative parenting style. Parents want their children to be happy, and this style of parenting has proven to be effective at developing psychologically healthy and happy kids.
What’s more, children learn to be on their best behavior from an early age. Habits developed during childhood are more likely to stay with the child throughout their lives.
The authoritative style of parenting also helps children perform better in school. They can make good choices earlier on in life and are thus able to focus more on their studies.
Children are also more emotionally stable and strong. They are less likely to suffer from psychological issues and traumas which means that they also excel in logic tests. They can make better more evaluated choices compared to kids who suffer from self-esteem issues.
Children also tend to have better social skills and are not reserved, since they don’t suffer from low self-esteem. They are not shy, which makes it easier for them to interact with their peers.
That said, children of authoritative parents are also less likely to succumb to peer pressure as they have learned from an early age to make good choices on their own. Since their parents listen to their opinion and guide them, such kids are more in tune with evaluating situations and making the best choices.
Since such children have learned early to engage their parents in the decision-making process and to take guidance, they also tend to show respect to their elders. This is a trait that is highly valued in many societies and cultures around the world including America.
Parenting Styles from Different Cultures:
Parenting styles vary from culture to culture. Some things will surprise you about this difference, but you will also find that other cultures accept their parenting style as completely natural.
A country’s views and customs can differ so drastically that what parents do in one country may even be viewed as a no-no in another.
1. Bali: Children are Not Allowed to Touch the Ground Until 3 Months Old
Babies are not allowed to touch the ground until they are 3 months old in Bali. Touching the ground is considered bad luck in Balinese culture since the ground is considered impure.
At three months of age, however, the infant is believed to be ready to face some impurities of this world and touch the ground for the first time
2. Japan: Co-Sleeping
In Western countries, co-sleeping is considered a no-no; but Japan, on the other hand, does not have an issue with it. Japan\’s mothers believe that a child should be held or comforted whenever they cry as a sign that they are unconditionally loved. They believe this makes them feel more secure and that it assists children in becoming confident individuals.
3. Everyone is equal in Sweden
The Swedes encourage children to express themselves on everything. Parents allow children to actively participate in family gatherings when making a decision, as a way to teach them that their point of view is just as important as the other family members.
4. Denmark: Parents Leave Babies in Strollers
Danish parents do not take strollers into stores or restaurants, so if their babies are sleeping in a stroller, they will keep their sleeping babies in the stroller while they go to a store or a restaurant. Danish parents leave their kids in strollers in public without fear of getting in trouble.
5. Scandinavian: Babies Nap Outside
Scandinavian babies often take naps outside, no matter what the temperature is. The purpose is to ensure that children learn this healthy habit from a young age. Even in sub-zero temperatures, parents take their babies out in strollers so they can nap outside.
6. Vietnam: A Whistle is Used When Potty Training:
Vietnamese parents start potty training their kids as young as nine months of age. The child is instructed to go to the bathroom by blowing a whistle whenever the baby poops or pees.
Mom whistles as soon as she sees her child peeing or pooping. It creates an association between the sound and going to the bathroom, since she does it every day. As the child grows, they also begin to understand that they have to go potty, and by the time they are 2 years old, they no longer need their mom with a whistle.
7. Zambia: Only the Select Hold the Baby/Children are Not Supervised
It is not allowed for singles or divorced to touch the baby immediately following birth for fear the child may die because they are having sex, which is considered dirty to touch a baby.
Only grandmothers and other elderly people are supposed to touch the baby after birth
Also, children as young as 4 years old are given errands in Zambia, Central Africa. It is not unusual to see children as young as 5 years old in a store doing some shopping or for them to walk to and from school by themselves.
Final Thoughts
Which parenting style is most encouraged in modern America? While there are many styles of parenting, they tend to have different effects on the psychological wellbeing of the child, including the development of values. In America, the style that is mostly preferred is the authoritative style. It outperforms other styles of parenting in benefits to the growing child and makes them a more valuable member of society.
