Authoritative Parenting Made Easy With Examples

Authoritative parenting is the best parenting style.

As a parenting consultant – when I recommend authoritative parenting to the participants of my Parenting Workshops – I summarize it in this way.

Love your child unconditionally.

Be flexible.

Be empathetic.

Communicate.

Be open.

Evolve.

It is a mistake to be rigid when you are parenting because every child is different and what works for another child may not work for yours. That is why Authoritative Parenting works so well because it is based on communication and understanding.

An authoritative parent does not REACT. Nor does she/he IGNORE. An authoritative parent makes clear rules based on an understanding of the situation and the child. She/he communicates expectations – and RESPONDS to different situations with empathy.

In this article – let us explore the three parenting styles – authoritative, authoritarian and permissive with the help of examples.

What is the best parenting style

What is Parenting styles?

Parenting styles were first defined by Diane Baumrind who said that parents usually interact with their children in 4 different ways.

Authoritarian Parenting – This the age-old style of parenting. In this style of Parenting – parents make rules and children are expected to obey whatever the parents say without questioning them. This is the easiest style of parenting because it involves giving in to our most basic instinct of getting what we want through brute force.

Permissive Parenting – Permissive parenting is a style of parenting that has evolved as an attempt to parent in a way that is the stark opposite of authoritarian parenting. It is usually practiced by parents who were brought up by authoritarian parents, and have decided not to use the brute force used on them by their parents to make them obey rules. Because they are determined to do the opposite of what their authoritarian parents did with them, they make no rules. They think that giving children freedom implies that they allow their children to do exactly what they please without making any rules or correcting them in any way.

Authoritative parenting – Authoritative parenting is the style of parenting that is embraced by those parents who decide to take the middle path. These are warm loving parents – who make reasonable rules – that they are willing to discuss with and explain to their children. These parents expect the best from their children but are forgiving and supportive when their children make mistakes or fail to meet expectations.

Negligent parenting – Negligent parenting is the parenting style employed by un-involved parents. These parents are preoccupied with various other aspects of their lives and do not care about what their children do. There are no rules, no expectations and no engagement. Research has proved over and over again that the best parenting style is the authoritative parenting style.

5 Authoritative Parenting Tips With Examples

 The aim of authoritative parenting is to give children freedom and encourage independence. But alongside that it also involves fostering self-discipline and a respect for others. 5 steps on how you can implement authoritative parenting style

How to be an authoritative parent in 5 steps

Step 1 – Have very high expectations

 All of us want the best for our children. And if we want the best – we must expect the best. Because what you expect is what you get. The most important thing to remember when we expect the best however is – to not be rigid and unforgiving in deciding what that “best” is. Because when we are rigid and unforgiving with our expectations we are sure to be disappointed.

For example – When the child wants to go to play but has homework to finish

A permissive parent – has no expectations. A permissive parent will be helpless and say “OK go to play if you want. It’s OK go to school with incomplete homework – nothing will happen”

An authoritarian parent – has rigid expectations. Such parent will assume that the child is “bad” and does not want to do the homework. So the parent starts threatening the child with dire consequences. “If you don’t do your homework right now I will hit you and you will not out to play the whole week.”

An example of a rigid expectation is – “My child will always get full marks in Maths and science” or “All boys must always be good at sports”. And because the expectation is so specific – an authoritarian parent gets extremely upset when what is expected is not delivered by the child.

An authoritative parent – understands the child’s desire to play – but is also clear that homework must be finished. This parent finds a strategy to overcome the challenge posed by homework because she/he believes that the child is good and wants to do the homework not escape it. An authoritative parent will say “Let’s revise the concept behind the sums given in the homework. Then you will finish quickly and have time to go out to play.”

An authoritative parent has high expectations. Such a parent expects the child to be attentive and well-behaved in school, to complete homework and to study for the tests and to perform well in most subjects. If the child does not do well in some subjects the authoritative parent analyses and discusses the cause for the failure without getting upset. And formulates a strategy for improvement with the child.

High expectations prompt children to rise to those expectations and increase the child’s self-esteem. Rigid expectations on the other handset children up for failure. And repeated failure leads to low self-esteem. Failure is inevitable in life. But when a child fails with his/her self-esteem intact – failure is not read as proof of personal inadequacy – but as an area for growth. Always expect the best – but tailor your expectations to build your child’s self- esteem. A child with positive self-esteem will exceed all your expectations.

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Authoritative parenting helps children succeed

Step 2 – Be reasonable about rules and obedience

Family rules are essential. They keep everyone safe, connected and productive. However, it is essential to be reasonable and considerate when making rules.

For example – When a child wants to go for a late night party alone

A permissive parent – will just say “OK go” because there are no rules in place. A permissive parent never says “No” to anything the child wants to do. As a result – children grow up without respect for rules. They break rules like traffic rules – endangering themselves. They also do not learn how to say “No” when they are in the danger of being bullied or abused because they have never seen their parents saying “No”.

An authoritarian parent – will just say “No. you cannot go. That is the rule in our house.”

Such parent has lots of rules for everything and always expects complete unquestioning obedience of those rules. Children who are brought up like this often do not realize that they have the right to speak when they do not like something. They are also unaware of how to put forward their views and opinions in a socially acceptable way. They are either totally submissive or resort to shouting and hitting – to get their point across. Because of these challenges – they often damage themselves – without achieving the change they desire.

An authoritative parent – The authoritative parent may say – “You can go out but you must pick up my calls when I call, you must keep me informed if you go anywhere else and you must be home by 10 pm.  This will make the child feel important and emphasize that negotiating and debating yields the desired results.

An authoritative parent has a set of reasonable family rules that are made considering the child’s age, personality, and abilities. It is expected that these rules will be obeyed and the child is corrected if this rule is broken. An authoritative parent makes rules that will benefit the child and keep her/him safe. But is also willing to argue the point with the child and defend the rule when the child wants something that the rule does not permit.

Authoritative parenting teaches children that they have a right to have an opinion. That they have a right to speak up when they are not satisfied. Because they are allowed to express themselves – in the safe environment of their homes – these children learn how to think and negotiate in a socially acceptable way.to resolve unsatisfactory situations.

There can be doubt about the fact that rules and discipline are important and everyone who wants to live in a civilized society must learn how to abide by rules. However, it can be dangerous and damaging to raise a child who cannot disagree and is unable to revolt and rebel when required. It is as important to help children learn how to stand up for themselves, for their thoughts ideas and principles as it is to teach them to obey.

How can I make my child listen to meAlso read 6 Reasons why your child doesn’t listen to you

Step 3 – Communicate

A key principle of authoritative parenting is communication. Communication involves both talking and listening

For example – A two-year-old who refuses to eat is expressing dissatisfaction and demanding change in a socially unacceptable way.

An authoritarian parent – will slap the child or pick him/her up and walk away. Such parent neither listens nor talks. Authoritarian parenting is practiced by closing down all channels of communication.

A permissive parent – will allow a tantrum and then give in and allow what the child wants. or offer a bribe or a distraction to make the child eat. only listens and never talks.

Permissive parenting hands over control to the child. The parent makes no attempt to emphasize the importance of rules – defend them or enforce them. The rules collapse as soon as the child says that he/she wants something that the rule does not allow. In permissive parenting – rules are practically non-existent

An authoritative parent will calmly explain to the child why the meal is important and why the child needs to eat. Negotiation is an important life skill and every authoritative parent must grab every opportunity that presents itself in the form of a disagreement between parent and child – to teach negotiation skills. When we impose our will on our children by demanding compliance or using brute force, it saves us precious minutes on busy days but it also discourages thinking and the development of essential communication skills.

Authoritative parenting leads the way for communication by explaining the reasons for making rules. An authoritative parent always answers the child’s “Why”. And asks and listens carefully when the child says “I won’t”. An authoritative parent is convinced that a rule needs to exist or a line needs to be drawn – and is willing to argue the point out until the child is convinced. Children who are parented by authoritative parents learn how to express themselves in words. And they learn how to use words effectively from their parents.

Learn how to be an authoritative parent

Also read Communicating or talking; what are you doing?

Step 4 – Help children develop thinking skills and responsibility

The purpose of Parenting is to let go. To slowly bring up children who are able to make responsible decisions by thinking carefully about the consequences Letting go however is so terrifying that many a time we find it easier to bind them in our rules and be authoritarian. We hide our fears for them under the easy garb of being rigid and non- communicative

For example – When a child wants to go to cycling alone outside the house compound

An authoritarian parent will just say “No. You can’t go out cycling alone.” Such parent sets inflexible boundaries that the child eventually always breaks. In many cases endangering himself/herself.

A permissive parent will not even have the systems in place that mandate that the child must ask for permission to go out. The child, in this case, will endanger himself/herself by making risky decisions about where to go and what to do because he/she will have no one to guide her/him.

Such a parent is not able to define boundaries or defines boundaries that collapse as soon as the child protests against them.

An authoritative parent sets the childfree by defining large but firm and inflexible boundaries (depending upon the age of the child) for them. Children will constantly push the boundaries that hold them in – but only to make sure that the boundaries are impossible to break.

Children need to know that the boundaries defined by their parents will keep them safe. That is when they feel free to confidently dream and create.

An authoritative parent will acknowledge and respect the child’s desire to do what his/her friends are doing. With the decades of experience that the parent has she/he will explain the risks of going out to the child and build strategies to ensure that these risks do not endanger the child.

So for example – the parent will explain the traffic signals and how important it is to follow them. The parent will also explain how important it is to carry identification so that in case of an accident – the parents can be informed immediately. The parent will also explain how important it is for the child to keep someone informed about her/his whereabouts all the time. A child with an authoritative parent will be safe and will learn new skills responsibly

Step – 5 Allow your child to make some decisions

Good decision-making is learnt by practice.

For example – When a child is deciding how to spend his/her pocket-money

Authoritarian parents will tell the child exactly what to do with the money. Such a child will never learn to make good decisions about money.  Such a parent will always tell the child what to do and insist on obedience – and mete out punishment when they are not obeyed.

Permissive parents will allow the child to do whatever he/she likes with the money. And then supply more money if the child has spent all of it without any thought. Such a child will become spoiled and self- centered.

Such parents will allow the child do whatever he/she wants to do without giving their decisions the larger view that they as adults have of the situation. They will not guide their children’s decision by helping them see the pros and cons of a given behavior but jump in to rescue them when they are in trouble.

Authoritative parents will help the child think and decide how to split up the money so that some gets spent on useful things, some get spent on pleasure and some can be saved. If the child does not agree – the authoritative parent will allow the money to be spent – but not step in with more money when the child falls short of it.

Authoritative parenting helps children decide what they want to do by helping them analyze the consequences of the decision. Unless something is dangerous – authoritative parents will allow children to do what they decide and allow them to experience the consequences of the decision.

Authoritative parenting builds positive self-esteem

Authoritative Vs Permissive Vs Authoritarian Parenting

What is your parenting style

Why is it difficult to implement authoritative parenting?

• If you are an Authoritative parent you must respond and not react. It is always easier to react.
• To be an authoritative parent you must be completely present in the given situation. You need to put yourself in your child’s shoes. Practicing empathy is never easy.
• If you are an authoritative parent – you must assess and analyze every situation. You must engage fully with your child and explain and negotiate your way as you parent. This requires time and patience that is usually in short supply.
• Unlike the other parenting styles – Authoritative parenting requires time and effort and must be learned and perfected with practice. That is why it is so difficult to put authoritative parenting into practice.

Also read 5 ways to Communicate for Effective Loving Discipline

Consciously choose your parenting style – a guide

An authoritative parent will not compare and compete and therefore will not require a trophy child who never does anything wrong. Such a parent will be able to allow children the safe space to make mistakes and learn from them.

Are you an authoritative parent? Do share your parenting experience with me in the comments below. Together let us try to parent better.