While gentle and mindful parenting is having its time with parents being mindful of how they speak, eat, behave and generally interact with others and their children, it seems the old town road of strict parenting will never really be closed off. While there's no perfect way to raise a child, having your children follow a daily routine and assigning them a chore chart might actually be more beneficial for them, rather than seeing how they want to spend their day.
A British study, SEED, has been tracking around 6,000 children across the UK since 2013 with the aim of analysing how environments, including early education and childcare, impact development.
The massive study tracked how children dealt with different parenting styles- from permissive to authoritarian and the result revealed that the healthy mix of the two, otherwise known as "authoritative" style, is the best. The study shows that a timely "no" and a guiding schedule can work as gentle pushers for your kids in the right direction.
Is the authoritative style of parenting really the answer?
As per the researchers and study authors, the authoritative style of parenting involves firm rules and a high level of "responsiveness", meaning a more hands-on and assertive approach.
Children brought up with this style were found to have a more "positive impact on KS2 attainment," said researchers. Essentially, kids between the ages of 7-11 experienced more academic growth due to their parents' rules and guidelines.
More hours of guidance in a formal domestic setting with tutors, nannies and more led to high scores in science, whereas more hours in informal settings, such as with family, friends and neighbours, led to more excelling at math. Additionally, the study found that children who spent at least 10 hours a week in a formal group childcare saw more chances of being better at reading, writing and math.
While authoritative parenting advises finding a midway between gentle and super-strict parenting, emotional regulation in parents proved to be vital in the method's success.
“Parental psychological distress, a chaotic home life, a more invasive relationship between mother and child, reflecting issues such as the mother feeling in conflict with or annoyed by her child,” led to lower socio-emotional success in elementary school. This means that while setting a structure of boundaries and rules for the children is important, being flexible and understanding is also important, as the alternative could be detrimental to a child's success and emotions.
The study has been extended till 2029, when the researchers will collect their final data points and surveys on the core group of kids.
A British study, SEED, has been tracking around 6,000 children across the UK since 2013 with the aim of analysing how environments, including early education and childcare, impact development.
The massive study tracked how children dealt with different parenting styles- from permissive to authoritarian and the result revealed that the healthy mix of the two, otherwise known as "authoritative" style, is the best. The study shows that a timely "no" and a guiding schedule can work as gentle pushers for your kids in the right direction.
Is the authoritative style of parenting really the answer?
As per the researchers and study authors, the authoritative style of parenting involves firm rules and a high level of "responsiveness", meaning a more hands-on and assertive approach.
Children brought up with this style were found to have a more "positive impact on KS2 attainment," said researchers. Essentially, kids between the ages of 7-11 experienced more academic growth due to their parents' rules and guidelines.
More hours of guidance in a formal domestic setting with tutors, nannies and more led to high scores in science, whereas more hours in informal settings, such as with family, friends and neighbours, led to more excelling at math. Additionally, the study found that children who spent at least 10 hours a week in a formal group childcare saw more chances of being better at reading, writing and math.
While authoritative parenting advises finding a midway between gentle and super-strict parenting, emotional regulation in parents proved to be vital in the method's success.
“Parental psychological distress, a chaotic home life, a more invasive relationship between mother and child, reflecting issues such as the mother feeling in conflict with or annoyed by her child,” led to lower socio-emotional success in elementary school. This means that while setting a structure of boundaries and rules for the children is important, being flexible and understanding is also important, as the alternative could be detrimental to a child's success and emotions.
The study has been extended till 2029, when the researchers will collect their final data points and surveys on the core group of kids.
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