Parenting is one of the most difficult tasks in present time. Making children good, ideal and noble; and leading them to the fight path paved with success and glory, is in reality a momentous responsibility. Hence, the style of parenting in contemporary scenario plays vital role in shaping the character, attitudes and life-style of the children. It also acts as the principal force behind the success and failure of the child.

There are various styles of parenting. It is so, because it depends upon the parents’ ideologies, thoughts, family culture, education, knowledge, age, experiences and life-styles. Parenting styles are not static. The styles change as the parents gain knowledge about the parenting process, relate their own experiences, and receive feedback from their children and from other sources. The styles of parental responses and interactions with their children broadly can be classified into three types. The three parenting styles are permissive, authoritarian and authoritative.

Permissive Parenting:- Permissive parenting is very liberal parenting. Permissive parents give too much freedom to their children. They set no limits or boundaries for their children, and endow with them no guidelines to follow. Permissive parents provide their children negative love and affections. They always excuse their children for their faults and wrong acts, and employ little or no punishment for them. These parents are generally misguided by the wrong notion that their children are the best and do no wrong. Most of these parents are uninvolved in parenting and spend little time with their children. They take excuses of stress and work burden. Such parents instead of guiding their children are guided by them. They allow their children to handle various situations in which they have little or no experience and proper skill to manage. Permissive parenting makes children aggressive, irresponsible, over-smart and wayward. It may spoil their career and life. Permissive parenting, is thus, very careless parenting.

Authoritarian Parenting:- Authoritarian parenting is strict parenting. Authoritarian parents are very demanding and strict, give punishment to their children, provide no freedom and do not allow them to express their choices. They dislike questioning of their authority, set very high standards, and demand that their standards be satisfied. These parents discourage independence and individuality, and impose their decisions on their children. They value submission, obedience and fully loyalty. This parenting style makes the children less confident, nervous, more dependable and less creative. In most cases, due to authoritarian parenting children lack proper will power, self-control and suffer from anxiety and stress. Under such parenting style, children get no opportunity to exhibit their opinion, find difficulty in making their own decisions, and tell lies. Hence, authoritarian parenting is also not good.

Authoritative Parenting:- Authoritative parenting is reliable and convincing parenting. Authoritative parents always employ explanations, discussions and reasoning. They give their children freedom, but not absolute. They allow their children to express their opinion, and make their own choices; but inspire and motivate them to do the best and appropriate things. They believe their children but allow them to do the justified things. They provide positive love and affections to their children, and exhibit no negative emotion. At a time they love their children deeply, take their very care, and behave more friendly with them; but warn them and sometimes punish them for their wrong deeds. Moreover, they balance their parenting style by using punishment and rewards suitably. Such parenting style makes the children disciplined, self-confident, responsible, truthful and sincere. It creates a healthy parents-children relationship characterized by trust, love and friendship. Authoritative parents always play greater roles in making their children successful in life. It is the best and most preferred way of parenting.

After knowing the details about the various styles of parenting, it is your duty to evaluate you and your parenting style. You can know what type of parents are you? Be authoritative parents so that your children can be the best and will do the best in their life.