Parental Styles Essay
The four distinctive styles of parenting are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. According to (Spencer, Jeffrey, & Lois, 2018), each style takes a different perspective to raising children and is identifiable by a number of different characteristics. In authoritarian parenting, parents believe children should strictly follow rules without exception (Spera, 2005). Authoritative parenting characterizes of high demands and responsiveness by the parent. Permissive parenting is the style of parenting characterized by low demands with high responsiveness (Spera, 2005). Uninvolved parenting or neglectful parenting is characterized by absence of child care responsiveness by parents (Amy, 2019).
Each parenting style affects the socioemotional development of a child, and in this case a 10-year old kid. A 10-year old child is immature and their socioemotional development depends on how responsible, careful, or concerned a parent is. According to (Spencer, Jeffrey, & Lois, 2018), the use of authoritarian parenting style on a 10-year old kid causes low self-esteem, stress and anxiety, fear and isolation, and social impairment during childrearing. In authoritarian parenting also, parents apply strict rules and have high expectations on their children (Amy, 2019). The manner in which mistakes are harshly punished makes it unresponsive in child rearing. The associated socioemotional outcomes are delinquency, less self-esteem, poor social skills, mental illness, and poor academic performance (Spera, 2005).
In authoritative parenting, parents respond to their children’s emotional needs while maintaining high standards (Spera, 2005). For a 10-year old kid, parents using this style set limits and are very consistent in boundaries enforcement. Since parents are warm and accepting, the 10-year old kid develops good social skills, maintains mental fitness, and has a high self-esteem. Still, using this style of parenting for a 10-year old kid contributes to lower delinquency and high academic performance since the child is free to interact with peers and educators while in the school. Also according to (Spencer, Jeffrey, & Lois, 2018), there would be rare cases of depression, stress, and anxiety upon the 10-year old child. In addition, the child would be less likely to be involved in antisocial behavior and drug abuse.
According to (Spencer, Jeffrey, & Lois, 2018), permissive parenting style does not fit for a 10-year old child as far as socioemotional development is concerned. This parenting style is attributed with few or no rules, leniency, indulgent, and warm or responsive approach (Spera, 2005). Applying this style to a 10-year child who is far from being mature has adverse associated socioemotional effects as the child is not exposed to any substantive guidelines and rules. Socially, the 10-year old kid will develop impulsive behavior, develop problematic relationship with peers and seniors, become egocentric, and develop poorer social skills with other people (Spera, 2005). Emotionally, the child will find it more difficult to be corrected and feelings of being devalued. Again, such young kids will develop low self-esteem and feelings of sadness and anger when they grow older only to find themselves in places where authority and rules are applied (Amy, 2019).
In addition, the socioemotional development of a 10-year old kid is adversely affected by the use of uninvolved parenting style. In neglectful parenting, the 10-year child will not receive the required parental guidance, attention, and nurturing (Spera, 2005). Where there are no rules and the parent is fully neglecting to the child, the child’s socioemotional development is fully derailed. The associated socioemotional developments of adopting neglectful parenting are suicides, impulsive behavior, delinquency, and substance abuse. This is because a 10-year old child is unable to make the right choice and on top of lack of parental guidance and nurturing (Spera, 2005). Thus, nothing good in terms of self-esteem, sociable skills, and good behavior can be reaped from products of uninvolved parenting.
References
- Amy, M. (2019). 4 Types of Parenting Styles and Their Effects on Kids. Verywell Family, 12-9.
- Spencer, R. A., Jeffrey, N. S., & Lois, F. R. (2018). Human Sexuality in a Changing World (10th ed.). New York: Pearson.
- Spera, C. (2005). A review of the relationship among parenting practices, parenting styles, and adolescent school achievement. Educational Psychology Review, 17(2), 125-146.