Authoritative Parenting Pros and Cons
What is authoritative parenting anyway? Many people are confused when they hear about it. In fact, some people might even be doubtful whether it really does work or not. This article would know exactly what it is and why it is considered a good style to use for parenting. If this style really works for you, then in its most pure form, it would help you have a clear concept of whether this style would work for your kids as well.
Let us first define what authoritative parenting is. Basically, this is a parenting style that involves power usage and the guidance of a higher power. We all have many choices regarding parenting styles, so the best thing to do here is to identify yours so you could make the necessary adjustments in your parenting methods. However, one advantage that you could have with this is that you would learn how to be a parent by example, and that’s a huge help.
So here are some authoritative parenting pros and cons that you might want to check out.
First off, let us define what we are actually talking about here. There are many parenting styles out there, and each has its own benefits, but some parents could lean more towards the authoritarian side while others would prefer the more democratic and caring type of approach. Authoritative parenting styles involve a high level of control on the part of the parents. Authoritative parents can make sure their kids follow them all the way, and if necessary, they could even take away their freedom to do whatever they like.
There is nothing wrong with being a little authoritarian as long as you realize that there are times when you have to exercise that control. Of course, you don’t really want your kids to make mistakes. Then these parenting styles wouldn’t be right for you. But the truth is that when your children make mistakes, particularly the younger ones, you need to make sure that you still get to say “no” and that you still get to make them learn from their mistakes.
Authoritative parenting involves a high level of discipline. Although it doesn’t necessarily mean that your parenting style is harsh and unforgiving, most parents would agree that they are much better parents when they are more careful and show restraint.
However, if you think that authoritarian parenting is not for you and that you prefer to spend your time as a parent doing things in a more relaxed and loving way, authoritative parenting is definitely for you. You must realize that your main purpose here is to take charge and that your children know that you are in charge, so they should respect you. You must also realize that you don’t always have to say “no” and that your children may occasionally make mistakes that you won’t always appreciate. But the bottom line is that you have to stand up for them, even if they make mistakes. With authoritative parenting, you also get to exercise a higher level of control over your children.
One of the advantages of this type of parenting is that it can work for all families. Children who are of different temperaments often get along well with authoritative parenting. Children of permissive parents, on the other hand, may have problems adjusting to stricter parenting styles. While authoritarian parents are usually considered more controlling than permissive parents, children often benefit from this style. Children can learn that they are the ones in charge of the home, and they can set boundaries around the house.
As you can see, both authoritarian and permissive parenting styles have their own pros and cons that you need to consider. The bottom line is that you will need to extensively research each of the parenting styles before deciding which one would be best for you and your family. You can read parenting books, and there are even parenting classes that you can take. You can also find parenting help online if you are too shy or intimidated to talk about your concerns. What is important is that you allow yourself the time you need to make the best decision for your family.
If you are a parent, the chances are that you are already very much familiar with one of the two popular parenting styles. Authoritarian parents are known for being very strict, and they are also very demanding.
However, if you want to reap the benefits of an authoritative parenting style, you may want to consider adopting the authoritarian parenting style. On the other hand, permissive parents are often relaxed but still effective.