Perils of Parenting
As a single mother I do my best to raise a kind, intelligent, helpful and happy child. Some days I do much
better than others the same way my son has good and bad days but one thing that troubles me a lot is
seeing how some parents treat their children.
I do believe that most parents do their best to raise children so they will become happy and responsible
adults but it pains me when I see children whose spirits are being essentially broken by their parents
words and actions.
Every child has a different temperament, personality and abilities, so there is no one-size-fits all
approach to parenting but there are some methods that are quite harmful to children even when done
with the best of intentions. Similarly, …show more content…
Longitudinal studies have consistently found that authoritarian and uninvolved parents raise children
who are more likely to lie, abuse drugs, be aggressive, suffer from anxiety and depression as well as end
up in trouble with the law. Those are two of the four different parenting styles that have been clearly
identified by researchers; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved.
Authoritarian parents tend to have strict expectations for their children, are less likely to articulate
reasons for their rules and expectations, use corporal punishment and have a “because I said so”
mentality if questioned or challenged by their children. They are also less likely than authoritative and
permissive parents to express warmth when interacting with their kids.
Authoritative parents have strict and consistent rules, display more warmth when interacting with
children, use more positive reinforcement and rarely if ever use physical discipline such as spanking.
They are firm but more likely to explain rules to their kids and have an open dialogue with them.
Researchers have found that it is beneficial to explain things, to young children, even those still …show more content…
Children of
uninvolved parents are much more likely to watch excessive tv, play a lot of video games and suffer
emotionally as well as being prone to poorer health, especially struggling with obesity.
The use of corporal punishment has been found to be mostly ineffective and potentially damaging. It is a
“do as I say, not as I do” philosophy. Children are highly impressionable and more intelligent than they
are often given credit for. It is worth noting that the majority of adults in the prison population had
parents who used heavy handed disciplinarian techniques. Studies have proven that children who are
spanked or physically disciplined in another way are more likely to lie and be aggressive towards others.
Children imitate what they see and if their primary caretakers strike them they are more likely to strike
others but are sure to do it when mom and dad are not watching. Additionally, the way parents speak to
their kids has a powerful effect. Highly critical speech will likely become a child’s inner voice
Parents striving to do their best for their children should know the most powerful influences we have
As a single mother I do my best to raise a kind, intelligent, helpful and happy child. Some days I do much
better than others the same way my son has good and bad days but one thing that troubles me a lot is
seeing how some parents treat their children.
I do believe that most parents do their best to raise children so they will become happy and responsible
adults but it pains me when I see children whose spirits are being essentially broken by their parents
words and actions.
Every child has a different temperament, personality and abilities, so there is no one-size-fits all
approach to parenting but there are some methods that are quite harmful to children even when done
with the best of intentions. Similarly, …show more content…
Longitudinal studies have consistently found that authoritarian and uninvolved parents raise children
who are more likely to lie, abuse drugs, be aggressive, suffer from anxiety and depression as well as end
up in trouble with the law. Those are two of the four different parenting styles that have been clearly
identified by researchers; authoritarian, authoritative, permissive and uninvolved.
Authoritarian parents tend to have strict expectations for their children, are less likely to articulate
reasons for their rules and expectations, use corporal punishment and have a “because I said so”
mentality if questioned or challenged by their children. They are also less likely than authoritative and
permissive parents to express warmth when interacting with their kids.
Authoritative parents have strict and consistent rules, display more warmth when interacting with
children, use more positive reinforcement and rarely if ever use physical discipline such as spanking.
They are firm but more likely to explain rules to their kids and have an open dialogue with them.
Researchers have found that it is beneficial to explain things, to young children, even those still …show more content…
Children of
uninvolved parents are much more likely to watch excessive tv, play a lot of video games and suffer
emotionally as well as being prone to poorer health, especially struggling with obesity.
The use of corporal punishment has been found to be mostly ineffective and potentially damaging. It is a
“do as I say, not as I do” philosophy. Children are highly impressionable and more intelligent than they
are often given credit for. It is worth noting that the majority of adults in the prison population had
parents who used heavy handed disciplinarian techniques. Studies have proven that children who are
spanked or physically disciplined in another way are more likely to lie and be aggressive towards others.
Children imitate what they see and if their primary caretakers strike them they are more likely to strike
others but are sure to do it when mom and dad are not watching. Additionally, the way parents speak to
their kids has a powerful effect. Highly critical speech will likely become a child’s inner voice
Parents striving to do their best for their children should know the most powerful influences we have