Psychologists and experts agree that kids with an uninvolved or neglectful parent generally have the most negative outcomes. A neglectful mother is not simply a parent who gives a child more freedom or less face-time. Negligent parents neglect their other duties as parents, too.
Authoritarian Parenting (Disciplinarian)
These strict parents demand blind obedience from their children without explanation. They use reasons such as “because I said so.” The authoritarian parenting style is also known as the disciplinarian parenting style.
Unfortunately, strong punishment leads to more misbehavior, rebellion and results in constant power struggles. This type of parenting does not support positive parenting. In fact, research shows that children with authoritarian parents perform more poorly than kids with permissive parents.
Authoritarian parents believe kids should follow the rules without exception. Children of authoritarian parents are at a higher risk of developing self-esteem problems because their opinions aren't valued.
Child psychologists often point to four main parenting styles ― neglectful, authoritarian, authoritative and permissive ― that influence how children grow and interact. “Authoritarian style parenting tends to cause anxiety,” Lockhart said. “This occurs when there are too many rigid rules in the home.
Uninvolved Parenting
An uninvolved parent is the most destructive to the development of a child. Whereas authoritarian parents overdo their rules and boundaries, and the permissive parent joins their child in breaking the rules, the uninvolved parent neglects their children and has NO relationship with them.
During your child's pre-adolescent and adolescent years, you are constantly confronted with the challenge of letting go. This is especially difficult if your kid seems to need to learn things the hard way. A natural part of adolescence is risk-taking — which often results in rule-breaking and inappropriate behavior.
Being nurturing and warm, but reluctant to impose limits. Rejecting the notion of keeping their kids under control. Similar to the authoritative style, they are emotionally supportive and responsive to their children. Permissive parents are not demanding.
Authoritarian Parenting Style
Authoritarian parenting is a type of parenting style that is characterised by strict rules and high expectations. In this style, parents are often very demanding and controlling, and children are expected to follow the rules without question.
In fact, many parents on our Instagram page characterized the toddler and teen years as especially challenging. While each age definitely comes with its ups and downs, those of you who are in the throes of year 8, we see you.
The exhausted, sleep-deprived mothers of babies and toddlers may appear to be grappling with the most stressful period of their child's lives, but experts believe it is in fact the 'perfect storm' of the tween years that cause the most grief.
It's no wonder then that research finds that the hardest years of parenting are the tween, (or middle school if you're in the USA) years. They may be less physically exhausting than the early years, but emotionally they are so much more exhausting.
Uninvolved parenting, sometimes referred to as neglectful parenting, is a style characterized by a lack of responsiveness to a child's needs. Uninvolved parents make few to no demands of their children and they are often indifferent, dismissive, or even completely neglectful.
Authoritative Parenting Style
They take the time to explain to their children why the rules are the way they are and encourage them to understand. They enforce boundaries and hold their children accountable but execute this in a compassionate and caring manner. The general outcome for these kids is positive.
Uninvolved These parents are “do nothing and say nothing” parents. Parents permit the children to do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it, without any rewards or consequences for their behavior. In extreme cases, this parenting style can develop into neglect or rejection of the children.
The authoritative parenting style is accepted as the healthiest, most positive of all the styles. It is child-centered and responsive. Parents are openly affectionate, and they treat kids with respect, talking to them and listening with attention. These parents create clear expectations, and they explain them.
The more often parents are able to discipline with an authoritative style, the more their children will develop good habits, a sense of security, and healthy self-esteem.
In contrast to the authoritative style, authoritarian parents probably would not relax bedtime rules during a vacation because they consider the rules to be set, and they expect obedience. This style can create anxious, withdrawn, and unhappy kids.
1-3 Months
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
They become quite independent as they reach 5-6 years of age, even wanting to help you with some of the chores! This is probably why most parents look at age 6 as the magical age when parenting gets easier.