Three Parenting Styles

Describe the three different parenting styles and discuss how they might impact on children’s behaviour. Use the module materials to illustrate your answer. Task 1 Question 1 Point 1: It is not only parenting styles that can impact on a child’s behaviour, other factors such changes in a child’s life can also affect behaviour Task 1 Question 2 Evidence for point 1: •Colloby et al. (2012, ch 2) With the focal family in the son Thomas’s behaviour since being diagnosed with having a hearing impairment has had a significant effect on the family. •Colloby et al. 2012, ch 2) Thomas was introduced to a speech and language therapist. Task 1 Question 1 Point 2: Early learning stages of a child’s life can create an impact on children’s behaviour Task 1 Question 2 Evidence for point 2: •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 42) states Swiss biologist and psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) “is renowned for his four-stage model of child development that linked children’s behaviour to different stages of development” •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 42) shows a table of Piaget’s first two stages of cognitive development and how these relate to key characteristics of children’s play •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 3) Russian psychologist, Vygotsky (1896-1934) argued that “Piaget had underestimated the role of language and social interaction in cognitive development and that children learn best in a social context with a ‘more knowledgeable other’ – someone who can support and encourage them in their learning” •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 43) states “Vygotsky believed that learning occurs when a child is supported by another person to do what they could not do alone. He called this the ‘zone of proximal development’”. •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 44) states “Feund (1990) conducted a study where young children were involved in placing furniture in doll’s house. She concluded that playing alongside a ‘more knowledgeable other’ helped the child to achieve the next step in their own learning thereby achieving something they could not have done alone” Task 1 Question 1 Point 3: Transition in children’s lives can impact on their behaviour when a transition to daycare or school occurs. Task 1 Question 2 Evidence for point 3: •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 47) states “Childcare professionals play an important role in the lives of the twenty-first century family for a number of reasons” •Colloby et al. (2012, p. 7) states “it is much more common for both parents to go out to work, either full or part time, and so children may be accessing day-care settings for at least some of the time, before they go to school” Task 1 Question 1 Point 4: The involvement of professionals and having to build new relationships can impact on a child’s behaviour Task 1 Question 2 Evidence for point 4: •Colloby et al. (2012, ch 2) the son Thomas has had to build new relationships and adapt to changes that he is not familiar and comfortable with. With the involvement of professionals Thomas was introduced to a speech and language therapist Task 1 Question 3

The focus of this essay is to describe the three parenting styles and to discuss how they might impact on children’s behaviour. The three parenting styles are authoritarian parent, an authoritative parent and a permissive parent. I am also going to describe other factors that may impact on children’s behaviour, such as changes in a child’s life, the involvement of professionals in children’s lives, the early learning stages and also the transition children experience when having to detach from their primary carer to attend day-care or school. Authoritarian parents are considered as being disciplined, strict and controlling.

Rules are set and they expect their child to follow them. They will not allow the child to make any choices or decisions of their own. They use a tough disciplined technique. The rules imposed are not open to negotiation with the child. They often will not explain the reasons why the rules are being imposed and also enforce their own punishment when a rule is broken. Similar, but different to, is the authoritative parent. They are also defined as strict but they have more of an understanding approach to their child when boundaries have been broken.

The parent will set boundaries, rules and guidelines that are plausible rather than enforce unrealistic ones. They will explain to the child the reasons why they are being introduced, should they broken, they will also issue non-punitive punishments. The third style is a permissive parent. They recognise their child’s developmental and emotional needs but they have difficulty imposing rules and setting boundaries. This style teaches the child that rules do not have to be followed. They are also described as being soft and too easy going. Permissive parents become a friend rather than a parent and tend to ‘give in’ to their child very easily.

A child’s behaviour can be both good and bad, so parenting styles can have a positive and a negative effect on a child. Majority of children’s behaviour problems take place during times of change and transition, this is a natural progression of development. Child psychiatrist and educator Rudolph Dreikurs (1897-1972), believed “that all humans, as social beings, want to belong and be accepted by others. He identified four goals for misbehaviour: attention, power, revenge and display of inadequacy” Colloby et al. (2012, p. 62). With the focal family in Colloby et al. 2012, ch 2) the assistance of Dreikurs four goals for misbehaviour gave Cara a better understanding of both her children. Cara was able to reflect on this information, and was able to take an impartial and objective look at her children’s behaviour and address it. Initially the parenting style both Cara and Alastair were trying to establish with Thomas and Rowanna, had a disciplined approach, however, as they lived with Alastair’s mum Diane, she had a soft approach, and this did not help the situation as Diane would give in to their every needs, she adopted more of a permissive style.

Children in this situation can get confused and frustrated not knowing which is right and which is wrong. Children require consistency as this can greatly impact on how they grow and develop. As well as the overall parenting style, family’s lives are affected by outside factors, such as changes in a child’s life can also affect behaviour. With the focal family in Colloby et al. (2012, ch 2) the son Thomas’s behaviour since being diagnosed with having a hearing impairment has had a significant effect on the family.

Thomas has had to build new relationships and adapt to changes that he is not familiar and comfortable with. With the involvement of professionals Thomas was introduced to a speech and language therapist. In addition to the sessions they carry out together, Cara and Alastair play an important role carrying out further exercise and activity sessions at home. The home sessions became mundane and tedious, and Thomas was getting upset because he no longer wanted to do them.

Early learning stages of a child’s life can create an impact on children’s behaviour as Swiss biologist and psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) “is renowned for his four-stage model of child development that linked children’s behaviour to different stages of development” Colloby et al. (2012, p. 42). Russian psychologist, Vygotsky (1896-1934) “believed that learning occurs when a child is supported by another person to do what they could not do alone. He called this the ‘zone of proximal development’”. Colloby et al. (2012, p. 43).

Whilst I agree with Piaget’s first two stages of cognitive development, the sensori-motor stage, whereby infant’s 0-2years will practice play and be allowed to explore and experience things for themselves, and the pre-operational stage, 2-7years, when a child’s play will replicate their own experiences, and they will see things from their own perspective using their own imagination, I also agree with Vygotsky’s beliefs that children can copy a person and learn from them. Some children can be further developed than others and so a child more conversant in play can assist with another child’s development.

Transition in children’s lives can impact on their behaviour when a transition to daycare or school occurs. In Society today it is much more common for both parents to go out to work, Colloby et al. (2012, p47) and so the need for childcare facilities increases. Childcare professionals play an important role in the lives of the twenty-first century family for a number of reasons, Colloby et al. (2012, p. 47). An example of this could be a child possibly needing to attend day-care before they attend school so parent(s) are able to continue with their careers.

By accessing the day-care placement, a child would be allocated a key person. The role of the key person is for the child to develop a bond with them so that they will make them feel safe and secure. The choice of parenting style is crucial to a child’s psychological and social development. Baumrind suggested that the majority of parents display one of three different parenting styles, Colloby et al. (2012, p. 70). The chosen style should provide a loving, supporting and disciplined approach to build a healthy and happy child.

A parent’s behaviour towards a child can potentially impact significantly on his or her wellbeing. The style is generally based on how they were reared themselves, or, it can be as a result of this that they choose another. It can also be chosen as a result of the society in which they live, their ethnicity or their cultural groups. Word Count 1,079 References Colloby, J. , Collins, J. , Conradie, L. , McKeogh, S. and Shelton, I. (2012) Understanding children and young people, Milton Keynes, The Open University.