6 PARENTING STYLES FOR THE NEW GENERATION

Just like pop culture, cell phones, and the latest style of jeans, parenting and parenting techniques are constantly evolving. What would earlier be considered suitable discipline has undergone a major shift in today’s world.

After all, our kiddos are growing up in a new generation, a digital age, with smartphones, the internet, and social media. As parents, we face a brand-new set of challenges that the previous parenting generation never had to consider. Consequently, new parenting styles have evolved that redefine bringing up children.

Researchers have identified certain parenting styles that have been observed most commonly in modern times. From thedatingmaven, your best-loved trendy kid apparel store, here’s a look at some specific parenting styles typically seen in the new generation.

Check out this fascinating article which talks about how parenting has undergone a shift over the past 50 years:

https://thedatingmaven.com/ways-parenting-has-changed/

INSTINCTIVE PARENTING

There’s no doubt that instinct plays a huge role when it comes to parenting. So, it’s no surprise that Instinctive Parenting is one of the most popular styles of parenting for the new generation.

As expected, intuition, or the feeling of “going with your gut” is the main component of instinctive parenting. It’s a very personal parenting technique, largely influenced by one’s own upbringing. An instinctive parent tends to teach what they know and parent the way they themselves were parented.

Pros:

🌟 The parent-child relationship is the fundamental aspect of this parenting style

🌟  Parents spend a lot of time in physical contact with their children when they are babies and toddlers

🌟  Parents take cues from their own childhood and upbringing style

🌟  Parents react and behave depending upon signs and indications received from their child

Cons:

🌟  Parents believe that they know what is best for their child and are averse to taking advice from others on how to raise their kids

🌟  Parents don’t use pre-defined rules; rather they use their sixth sense or instincts. This might be confusing to the child at times

Find out more about Instinctive Parenting at:

https://thedatingmaven.com/beginners-guide-to-instinctive-parenting/ 

AUTHORITATIVE PARENTING

This style is widely considered to be most beneficial to children. Authoritative parents are supportive, nurturing, and always in tune with their kids’ needs. Such parents rear kids who tend to be confident, disciplined, and well-grounded.

Pros:

🌟  Parents set high goals and expectations for children while explaining the reasons behind them

🌟  Parents display flexibility and understanding when expectations are not met

🌟  The idea of discipline is to be assertive but not restrictive, to support rather than punish

🌟  Children may provide input while framing goals, rules and expectations

🌟  Frequent communication is important; parents listen to and take into consideration their kids’ opinions and feelings

Cons:

🌟  If children are adamant or very wilful, it can be difficult for parents to enforce and exercise authoritativeness in the family environment

🌟  This style often puts too much reliance on rules, and there may be a risk of making the system of living too mechanical instead of organic and growth-based

Here’s a great article that talks more about Authoritative Parenting:

https://thedatingmaven.com/authoritative-parenting-style/ 

PERMISSIVE PARENTING

The permissive parenting style is defined primarily by leniency and indulgence. Their discipline style is the opposite of strict.  Permissive parents are supportive and communicative. They mostly allow their children to do what they want, and offer limited guidance.

Pros:

🌟  Parents are more likely to take on a friendship role, rather than a parenting role, with their kids

🌟  Parents communicate openly and usually let their kids decide for themselves, rather than giving direction

Cons:

🌟  Rules and expectations are either not set or rarely enforced

🌟  Parents prefer to avoid conflict and typically go to great lengths to keep their children happy, sometimes at their own expense

Check out further details about Permissive Parenting at:

https://thedatingmaven.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/permissive-parenting-the-pros-and-cons-according-to-a-child-psychologist/ 

UNINVOLVED PARENTING

Often referred to as neglectful parenting, this is characterized by a sense of indifference or distance. Uninvolved parents usually leave children to fend for themselves. However, this behavior is not due to coldness or lack of caring, but often because the parents are struggling with their own problems.

Cons:

🌟  No particular discipline style is enforced; the child is mostly allowed to do what they want

🌟  Minimal attention, nurturance, and guidance is provided by the parents

🌟  Parents typically have their own self-esteem issues and have difficulty forming close relationships

🌟  Parents give children a lot of freedom and generally stay out of their way; this may be a conscious decision, or because they are unsure what to do

To know more about Uninvolved Parenting, take a look at this well-researched article:

https://thedatingmaven.com/what-is-uninvolved-parenting-2794958 

AUTHORITARIAN PARENTING

Tough love! That’s what this particular parenting style is all about. Authoritarian parents are often thought of as disciplinarians, and opposite of permissive parents. While this parenting style sounds harsh, most

Pros:

🌟  Parents set well-defined rules, with firm consequences when rules are broken

🌟  Parents believe this parenting style will benefit their kids by molding them into capable, high-achieving members of society

 Cons:

🌟  Parents often set rules or enforce discipline without asking for input or feedback from kids

🌟  Strict discipline is enforced with little or no negotiation or flexibility

🌟  Parents typically play a less nurturing role and demonstrate low responsiveness and high expectations

🌟  Communication is typically one-way — from parent to child

You can find out more about Authoritarian Parenting here:

https://thedatingmaven.com/what-is-authoritarian-parenting-2794955

HELICOPTER PARENTING

Helicopter parents are driven by a need to be overprotective, and constantly intervene in their kids’ lives. In other words, they hover like a helicopter. While helicopter parenting is understandable in the case of babies and very young children, continued smothering of a child in every aspect of their life can eventually backfire.

Pros:

🌟  Parents know where their child is at all times, which is an important consideration for their safety

Cons:

🌟  Parents try to monitor and manage every aspect of their child's life including friendships and social standing

🌟  Kids tend to become dependent on their parents’ money, time and advice even past their college years and into their professional careers

🌟  Parents have a tendency to over-schedule their kids in an effort to give them a competitive edge in everything from school to sports to music

🌟  Parents often put their personal goals and career aspirations on hold in favor of what they think their kids need

Check out further details on Helicopter Parenting at:

https://thedatingmaven.com/health/parenting/helicopter-parenting

It can be hard to let go of older, well-established concepts and notions of parenting and learn to adapt to new ideas and styles. We all want to be the best parents we can possibly be, but there is a lot of conflicting parenting advice out there which may seem pretty bewildering.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that when it comes to your child, you as parents are the ones who know best. Keep an open mind, consider what works for your little one, and go with your gut. And love, patience, and a lot of hugs will take care of the rest!

From all of us at thedatingmaven, your favorite children’s clothing online store, we wish you love, luck and good health in the new year!

Sending love from Be Kind blogs. Happy reading.