Children are our future. But how can we ensure that they grow up to be happy and confident adults?

Arguments for strict parenting

Many children today grow up in a very permissive parenting environment, which can lead to them not knowing boundaries. However, strict parents are often very good for their children’s development. Through strict parenting, children learn not only discipline, but also respect and self-control. They know what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do, and they usually also have a good relationship with rules and instructions. All these factors contribute to the fact that later in life, children can be expected to act responsibly and take their duties seriously. Many children grow up without boundaries and thus learn nothing about responsibility and humility. Without boundaries, children can act selfishly and unreasonably. They do not learn that there are rules that must be followed or that other people should be respected. Boundaries help children understand what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Boundaries make children feel safe and secure. They know that someone is there for them, telling them what is right or wrong.

Arguments for loving parenting

In a time when there are so many different parenting methods and philosophies, it can be difficult to make the right decision for yourself and your child. But there are some good reasons that speak for a loving upbringing. For one thing, it has been scientifically proven that children who are brought up by their parents with love and attention are more self-confident and happier. They have higher self-esteem and are less prone to depression and anxiety. In addition, children who grow up in a loving environment are more creative and open to new things. They learn better to cope with new challenges and have a more positive attitude towards life in general. Last but not least, loving parenting is also good for the relationship between parent and child. When you treat your child with love and respect, you build trust and closeness, the two sides strengthen each other. In contrast, an authoritarian upbringing can alienate parents and children and create distance. All these points suggest that loving parenting is a good choice – both for the child and for the relationship between parent and child.

What is best for the child?

There is no simple one-size-fits-all recipe for raising a child. Every family and every child are individual and so parenting must be adapted to their needs and circumstances. Nevertheless, there are some basic tips that can be helpful in parenting. First of all, it is important that parents are consistent. Children learn best when they have clear rules and boundaries. If the parents give in once, the child will quickly notice and try to test these limits again and again in the future. Parents should also be as consistent as possible. If mum allows something and dad forbids something, this is confusing for the child and it no longer knows what it is allowed to do and what it is not. At the same time, it is important that the parents also trust the child. Children should always get positive feedback and feel that their parents are proud of them. Only in this way can they develop self-confidence and learn to accept mistakes.

Conclusion

In summary, there is no clear recipe for how to raise your child. You have to try out a lot and find out what is best for your child. The child’s personality also plays a big role in parenting. Some children need more freedom, others more structure. In any case, it is important to communicate with and listen to the child. This is the only way to find out what the child needs and how best to raise it.

What is the authoritarian parenting style?

The authoritarian parenting style is a parenting style that is characterised by strictness and control. Parents who use this style are usually very inflexible and tend to criticise and punish their children. They also expect their children to obey them. This parenting style is widespread in many cultures and is often considered the traditional or classical parenting style. However, many experts believe that it is not effective and can lead to social exclusion.

The positive effects of an authoritarian parenting style

There are some positive aspects of the authoritarian parenting style that should not be ignored. For one, it teaches children self-discipline and respect. These two virtues are very important to succeed in life. Secondly, the authoritarian parenting style promotes children’s ability to follow instructions. This is important to ensure that children function well in a structured environment. However, the authoritarian parenting style should be used with caution as it can also have negative effects. For example, it can lead to anxiety and behavioural problems in children. It can also make it difficult for children to accept criticism or follow instructions later in life.

Dangers – An extreme perspective on parenting style

The authoritarian parenting style is a parenting style where parents or other guardians give clear rules and instructions and enforce them. In this style, children are often not involved in decision-making and must abide by the strict rules. This style is also called “military” or “disciplined” parenting style. Parents who use the authoritarian parenting style are often very strict and may physically or emotionally abuse their children. They expect their children to follow the rules completely and do not tolerate back-talk or criticism. In some cases, they may also try to control their children through fear of punishment. This style of parenting is often criticised as it is associated with a number of negative effects on the children. These include low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, social isolation and a reduced ability to solve problems.

Solution – The combination of strictness and love

Most parenting styles fall into two categories: Strictness and laissez-faire. In recent years, however, it has been shown that a combination of the two is most successful. This style of parenting is called authoritative or democratic and relies equally on rules and limits as well as love and attention. While strict parents tend to be authoritarian and punish children harshly when they do something wrong, laissez-faire guardians try to let their children grow up completely free and rarely intervene. However, both extremes have their disadvantages. Strict parents risk their children developing anxiety or even rebelling, while the children of laissez-faire educators tend to be undisciplined and develop poor social skills. Authoritative parenting is therefore based on the ideal combination of strictness and love: rules and boundaries are clearly defined, but at the same time the relationship with the child is always in the foreground. This ensures that the child’s needs are not neglected, but that the child still learns to act within certain limits.

Conclusion – Is the authoritarian parenting style still up to date?

If we look at the results of the studies, we can see that the authoritarian parenting style is no longer as effective as it once was. Children today are very bright and curious and learn a lot from other children or from the internet. If they are constantly “educated” with threats and violence, they feel helpless and insecure. So it is time for a new style of parenting based more on trust and cooperation.