Child Rearing approaches
A parenting style is a psychological construct representing standard strategies that parents use in their child rearing. The quality of parenting can be more essential than the quantity of time spent with the child. For instance, the parent may be engaging in a different activity and not demonstrating enough interest in the child. Parenting styles are the representation of how parents respond and make demands on their children. Parenting practices are specific behaviors, while parenting styles represent broader patterns of parenting practices. There are various theories and opinions on the best way to rear children, as well as differing levels of time and effort that parents are willing to invest.
There are many theorists/researchers who have compiled a plethora of ideas about child rearing that have influenced our thinking about children and how to raise them. It is important in supporting all children and families, that we are aware of the multiple ways in which children are raised in their diverse households. There is not one right way to raise a child, but many different strategies that work best for the children and the families that they are being raised in. When we know where something comes from, we are better able to understand and adapt to what makes the most sense in our current society.
Parents and caregivers have a responsibility to guide and promote positive socialization strategies for children in their care. These activities are known as discipline or guidance - two words that are often used interchangeably in parenting education. It is recommended that caregivers utilize a comprehensive disciplinary approach for guiding children's behaviors.
Caregivers proactively teach children how to regulate their own behaviors by using age- and developmentally-appropriate strategies that enhance:
positive, supportive, and nurturing caregiver-child relationships,
safety, permanency, and consistency,
adaptable behavior patterns by removing reinforcements to eliminate undesired behaviors, and
cognitive, social-emotional, and executive functioning skills.
For optimal outcomes, all of the above components must consistently function well in an individualized manner for each child, and within the context of children, feeling loved, safe, and secure.
Examples of caregivers' guidance by stage:
Newborns: recognize and respond flexibly to infant's needs while providing generally structured daily routines.
Infants and toddlers: use limitations, protection, and structure to create safe spaces for play and exploration.
Early childhood: utilize creative and individualized strategies to guide children's desirable behavior patterns to become their typical interactions.
School-age: increase children's own responsibility for self-control via the integration of previously-developed internalized rules of conduct.
Adolescence: change strategies to foster more autonomy, self-regulation, and responsibility while guiding teens' safety and positive decision-making skills.
