Parent-Child Relationships

image from 

http://husbandfathersonbrotherman.blogspot.com/2011/02/father-quad.html

Relationships are one of the most significant influences on the growth and well-being of young people and the parent-child relationship is one of the most important relationships of all.  Looking at parenting styles can guide us in reflecting on our relationships with our children and how we interact with them.   Many people believe that the predominant parenting style in our society has moved from the authoritarian style of parenting to a more permissive style.    Research indicates there is a third option that is effective, the authoritative style, which is a balance between the dimensions of strict and lenient.   Two factors are important in parenting styles, parental warmth and control.   Permissive parents are high in warmth and low on control, while authoritarian parents may be high on control and low in warmth.  Authoritative parents are high on control and warmth.  Taking a look at these dimensions may help give us some ideas on exploring how we interact with our children.  Our approach may shift depending on the circumstances.  These styles are useful for us to examine as we work with not only our own children, but other youth as well.  Take a quiz to see where you fall in the parenting style dimensions.  This website has some more information on the parenting styles.