Exploring Different Parenting Approaches: Pros And Cons

 Parenting has not ever been an easy task. To some parents and caregivers, parenting is a success story, whereas to others, it is a calculated failure and misery. There are factors which make parenting either a success or failure. With many parenting approaches adopted by parents and caregivers, each of them with its unique characteristics and strategies, parents and caregivers often find themselves sailing through a sea of conflicting advices, views, and opinions. By critically analyzing and exploring different parenting techniques, parents and caregivers can acquire a deeper understanding of their values and parenting styles, and make informed decisions about how to raise their own children properly.

One of the popular parenting approaches is called Authoritative Parenting. It balances warmth and responsiveness with clear boundary settings and high expectations. This approach encourages children to develop self-regulation skills, independence (autonomy), and self-confidence. For example, parents and caregivers who use authoritative parenting approach might set clear rules, limits, boundaries, and expectations.This approach enables the children to express their thoughts, feelings, and intentions freely to parents and caregivers. Infallible research has shown that children raised under the tutelage of authoritative parents and caregivers tend to have and exhibit better social relationships with peers.

The second parenting approach adopted by parents and caregivers across the world is Permissive Parenting. It emphasizes warmth, responsiveness, and flexibility. All permissive parents and caregivers tend to avoid conflicts and child's inconveniences, and always prioritize their children's happiness, demands, and autonomy. While this parenting approach can foster a strong parent-child attachment, and encourages creativity self-expression, it also can pave way for difficulties with self-regulation and boundary settings. For example, permissive parents and caregivers might struggle to set limits on their children's behaviours, leading to problems with discipline and responsibility. Children raised by permissive parents and caregivers are pampered. They are treated like fresh eggs to be guarded against being broken. In that process, they spoil and sink into excesses of societal vices. They are worshipped by their parents and caregivers as gods and untouchables. They are permitted or allowed to do whatever they want to do, but at the end to their own detriment and shame. Most wealthy and influential people are permissive parents and caregivers.

The next parenting approach is Authoritarian Parenting. It is a more rigid and strict approach to parenting which emphasizes total obedience, allegiance, and compliance to the rules and regulations given by parents, caregivers, and authority. This approach characteristically provides clear boundaries and expectations, but it can also lead to increased stress, anxiety, and rebellion in children. Children brought up by authoritarian parents and caregivers feel that they are under heavy yokes and bondage. For example, authoritarian parents and caregivers can use punitive measures and discipline to control their children's actions and behaviours. This situation damages the parent-child attachment and erode self-esteem. Children raised by authoritarian parents and caregivers do not most times have good and reliable lifestyles. In the presence of their parents and caregivers, they behave well. When they are outside their homes, they turn into terrible elements. They are not free to express themselves in the presence of their parents and caregivers because they know the consequences of doing so. They feel better staying outside the reach of their fathers and mothers so as to be free from their draconian laws. 

The next type of parenting style is called Attachment Parenting. This approach to parenting prioritizes emotional connection and responsiveness. It always emphasizes the importance of physical touch, empathy, and validation in building a strong parent-child bond. Attachment parents and caregivers are prone to practising co-sleeping, baby-wearing, and breastfeeding, which can promote feelings of security and attachment in children. Research has shown that attachment parenting can have numerous benefits, including emotional intelligence and better social skills. Some children raised under the tutelage of attachment parenting can occasionally suck their mother's breasts during teenage and adolescence stages of development. I have seen it with my eyes! 

 Examples of different parenting approaches can be seen in various cultures and countries across the world. In Sweden, parents and caregivers prioritize "lagom", which emphasizes finding a balance between being too much and too little. This approach encourages children to develop a sense of moderation and contentment. Inculcating the value of self-contentment into children is very important. At least, it teaches those children who will later rise to the top echelon of the society not to steal (embezzle or misappropriate) Government's funds and resources. In Japan, parents and caregivers often use a more authoritarian approach to parenting, emphasizing discipline and hard work. This approach, however, is often balanced with a strong emphasis on family and social relationships. Chinese parents and caregivers also apply authoritarian parenting styles, with high expectations and strict rules, driven by a sense of duty and love. Parents and caregivers prioritize academic achievements, believing it secures a prosperous future for the children. However, today, the younger generations are blending traditional expectations with more emotionally responsive parenting, reflecting globalization's influences.  In India, traditions are blended with modernism, emphasizing values, autonomy (independence), and moral education. India's approach to parenting is typically strict, with high expectations for academic success. Her joint family system of parenting plays a significant role in shaping child-rearing practices, promoting close-knit engagement and shared responsibility. Parenting approach in North America emphasizes individual autonomy, self-expression, and holistic development. In North America, parenting always adopts democratic approach, balancing discipline with autonomy and fostering open communication. Parents and caregivers in North America also prioritizes emotional well-being, nurturing social, emotional, and cognitive development.

In conclusion, exploring different parenting approaches can help parents and caregivers gain a deeper understanding of their own values and parenting styles. By considering the pros and cons of various approaches, parents and caregivers can make informed decisions about how to raise their children and create a nurturing environment that promotes healthy development. While no single parenting approach is 100% perfect, parents and caregivers can draw on the strategies of different approaches to create a personalized parenting style that meets the unique needs of their children. By embracing a flexible and adaptive approach to parenting, parents and caregivers can build strong relationships with their children and help them develop into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals.

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