Lesson 9: PARENTING APPROACHES

4 Parenting Approaches

View the TED Talk: Parenting Styles by Scout O’Donnell :

After watching the video please complete Assignment 9.1 below

Part I

Review and answer the following:

Summary

1. Summarize the video and analyze O’Donnell’s main points.
2. Describe O’Donnell’s attitude about parenting?

Analysis

Use the skills decribed by the researched parenting approaches (below) developed by Dr. Diane Baumrind to understanding your the 4 parenting Approaches: Authoritarian, Permissive, Uninvolved and Democratic.

Analyze the parenting approach/es that your parents used with you and your siblings. Some skills overlap parenting approaches.

What was the outcome for you and them; personal (how you feel about yourself), professional (how you feel about your achievements), and in relationships (co-parent, family members, others? Describe in detail.

Application

1. How do you think you will apply a “democratic parenting” approach with your children? Describe in detail.
2. Use the democratic parenting approach and skills to do the role plays below.
3. Avoid explanations, closed questions (yes/no answers) and why questions.
4. Avoid the accusatory you.

a. A 7-year old child is caught stealing money out of mom’s purse.
b. A 12-year old is seen breaking windows in an abandon house.
c. A 17-year old is accused of spray painting a business.

Study Hall

1. Recap the 4 Parenting Approaches.
2. Discuss how you were parented.
3. Go over the roll plays.

Baumrind Parenting Approaches

Authoritarian Parenting:

1. Authoritarian parents are often thought of as disciplinarians.
2. They use a strict discipline style with little negotiation possible. Punishment is common.
3. Communication is mostly one way: from parent to child. Rules usually are not explained.
4. Parents with this approach are typically less nurturing.
5. Expectations are high with limited flexibility.

Skills: lecturing, showing disappointment, rewarding obedience, conditional love, punishment, all rules are non-negotiable.

Permissive Parenting:

1. Permissive or Indulgent parents mostly let their children do what they want, and offer limited guidance or direction. They are more like friends than parents.
2. Their discipline style is the opposite of strict. They have limited or no rules and mostly let children figure problems out on their own.
3. Communication is open but these parents let children decide for themselves rather than giving direction.
4. Parents in this category tend to be warm and nurturing.
5. Expectations are typically minimal or not set by these parents.

Skills: pampering, pleasing, giving in/giving up, incompetence, few boundaries, unconditional love, falls back on punishment, negotiates non-negotiable rules.

Uninvolved Parenting:

1. Uninvolved parents give children a lot of freedom and generally stay out of their way. Some parents may make a conscious decision to parent in this way, while others are less interested in parenting or unsure of what to do.
2. Characteristics of these parents include: too involved in careers, mental/emotional distress, distracted by conflict, grief or physical illness, or addiction.
3. No particular discipline style.
4. Lacks feelings of bonding or connection.
5. Neglectful.
6. Lets a child mostly do what they want, probably out of a lack of information or caring.
7. Communication is limited.
8. Offers little nurturing.
9. Shows little or no expectations of children.

Skills: inability to cope with everyday child rearing issues and concerns. Unable to recognize there are any issues.

Democratic Parenting:

Democratic parents are reasonable and nurturing, and set high, clear expectations.

Children with parents who demonstrate this style tend to be self-disciplined and think for themselves.

This style is thought to be most beneficial to children.

Disciplinary rules are clear and the reasons behind them are explained.

Communication is frequent and appropriate to the child’s level of understanding.

Democratic parents are nurturing.

Expectations and goals are high but stated clearly. Children may have input into goals.

Skills: Effective Communication, compassion/empathy, focus on teaching/learning, uses agreements & apologies, trust & conflict resolution skills. Unconditional love with reasonable, age-appropriate boundaries.

Weekly Wrap-Up

1. What three or more ideas, thoughts or skills were the most helpful to you in this lesson? Give examples.

Be sure to SHARE your papers with the class via email by cc’ing everyone from a separate thread.

PARENTING APPROACHES PAPER BY: (Your Name). Be sure to add reflections to each other’s work.