Four Basic Parenting Styles

Researchers and parenting experts have labeled and categorized parenting behavior into four basic parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and indifferent. In theory, every parent falls somewhere on the continuum and can fit (mostly) into one of the four categories. Don't expect to find yourself fitting perfectly into one category or another, but most people will tend to see one dominant style that best describes them.

The four basic parenting styles tend to fall on either side of a basic continuum between those parents who are heavy on discipline and those parents who tend to take a different more child centered approach. Classifying parenting styles can help parents recognize their weaknesses and work towards a more ideal approach towards discipline and child rearing in general.

Authoritative parenting is the ideal for which most parents try to strive. Authoritative parents seek to set clear and age-appropriate guidelines for their children. They follow through consistently, with consequences that make sense. Children who are raised in an authoritative environment learn to take responsibility for their behavior because the expectations are clearly communicated as are the reasons behind those expectations. A few markers of the authoritative style include:

• Parents catch children being good and reward positive behavior.
• Consequences are explained and make sense.
• Guidelines and rules are age appropriate.
• Consequences are given consistently; children know what to expect.

The authoritarian style of parenting is generally descriptive of someone who is very controlling. The authoritarian parent feels the need to control situations and does so by imposing rules on their children. Rules are enforced by harsh consequences with little to no explanation. Characteristics of authoritarian parents often include the following:

• They are generally very critical of their children. Small infractions are as big of a deal as little infractions.
• "Because I said so," is the mantra of the authoritarian parent. Rules and guidelines are not explained.
• Authoritarian parents are more likely to yell a lot in order to control the situation or their child's behavior.

Permissive parents are the opposite of authoritarian parents. Permissive parents do not have control or don't often even try to exert any control over their children. Permissive parents may try to "befriend" their children rather than parent them. They may also find themselves frustrated by the ruts they create by giving in to every whim of the child. Some consistent characteristics of permissive parenting include:

• The mantra from a permissive parent is to keep the child from getting to upset.
• Permissive parents often feel as if they "have to" give in to avoid crying or a temper tantrum.
• Permissive parents tend to reach a breaking point at which they may scream or get upset.

Indifferent parenting is sometimes not even considered a category compared to the other three. However, the indifferent parent is the one who couldn't be bothered with his or her child. Often, this type of attitude is due to a traumatic event or an illness. In the case of a truly indifferent parent, intervention in the form of counseling may be the best possible recourse.

While all parents strive towards having children who are well behaved and well grounded, most parents will find themselves falling somewhere in between permissive and authoritarian. It is a rare parent that could say she's never used the line, "Because I said so," in response to a child. If you're worried that you are either too permissive or too authoritarian, take heart! It's a good sign to be thinking about your parenting behavior and how to continue building great relationships with your kids.

• Children Playing
• 10 Parenting Tips
• Halloween Trivia for Kids
• Bible Trivia for Kids
• Trivia Questions for Kids

• Disney Princess Coloring Pages
• Teen Birthday Party Ideas
• Pros and Cons of School Uniforms
• Children's Birthday Cake Ideas
• Kids' Hair Styles