There are 3 types of parenting:
- Coercive: The parent is in charge and rules the children. Characteristics of this type of parenting include yelling, spanking, forcing and threats of punishment. The child is given little room to make their own decisions.
- Permissive This parenting style is the opposite of coercive parenting. It is characterized by parents who are not active enough in child rearing. They do not set clear limits for their children. Often times with this type of parenting, the child is overindulged. Their is often little structure to the child's day such as homework time, bedtime, limits on television time or time on the computer.
- Authoritative: This style of parenting is most in line with the guideline set by the Proclamation on the Family. The parents set fair limits that are clear and firm, but allow their children to be part of the decision making in the home. The parents model respect. Parents become aware of the different personalities of their children and strive to deal with them in ways that work best for the child.
- Coercive: often times produces aggressive behavior in children. In adolescents it can lead to delinquent behavior. This form of parenting pushes the child to rebel as a punishment to their parents.
- Permissive: Child may have difficulty respecting others. They struggle to delay gratification and they are often times more defiant of authority.
- Authoritative: Children are less aggressive, do better in school, are less likely to abuse drugs, self motivated, kinder to peers, do better in school, and are more willing to abide by laws.
Brigham Young stated "Kind looks, kind actions, kind words, and a lovely, holy deportment toward them will bind our children to us with bands that cannot easily be broken; while abuse and unkindness will drive them from us."
Additional resources on parenting styles:
Love and Logic
Love, Limits and Latitude
Raising Successful Children
