Typology of Parenting Styles High AcceptanceLow Acceptance High Demand AuthoritativeAuthoritarian Low Demand Permissive, indulgentNeglecting, uninvolved

Authoritative parenting parents are nurturant, responsive, and supportive, yet set firm limits for their children; blends respect for a child’s individuality with an effort to instill social values. OUTCOME: children are energetic, emotionally responsive, self-reliant Permissive parenting parents fail to set firm limits or to require appropriately mature behavior of their children. Emphasizes self-control and self-expression. OUTCOME: children are impulsive, lack self-control, lack self-reliance Authoritarian parenting parents are unresponsive, inflexible, and harsh in controlling behavior. Emphasis on control and obedience. OUTCOME: children are apprehensive, frustrated, passive; show hostility Neglectful/uninvolved Parents are neglectful and uninvolved with child’s life. Lack of emphasis on any responsible or responsive parenting behavior. OUTCOME: consistently negative; disturbed relationships with others, impulsive, antisocial, lack of achievement orientation Parenting Styles

10 Basic Principles of Good Parenting (Steinberg, 2004) What you do matters You cannot be too loving Be involved in your child’s life Adapt your parenting to fit your child Establish rules and limits Help foster your child’s independence Be consistent Avoid harsh discipline Explain your rules and decisions Treat your child with respect

Guiding Young Children’s Behavior Recommendations from the STEP 1. Understand child development 2. Understand child behavior/misbehavior 3. Build self-esteem 4. Communicate (e.g., use I-messages) 5. Help children cooperate 6. practice effective discipline* 7. nurture emotional and social development

Reason for MisbehaviorResponse AttentionIgnore the behavior; reward positive behavior with attention PowerWithdraw from conflict by refusing to fight or become angry; let child experience consequences of misbehavior RevengeBuilt trust and mutual respect Display of inadequacyEncourage; focus on the child’s strengths

Encouraging Cooperation Make the problem clear to the child(ren). Use brainstorming to find possible simple solutions (alternatives) Consider the suggested solutions. Consider the consequences. Choose a solution. Make a commitment to obtain a solution and set a time to evaluate it.

Effective Discipline: the goal of discipline is self-discipline Distract Remove the child from the situation Structure the environment to prevent misbehavior Involve children in choices and consequences Control the situation, not the child Reinforce positive behavior

Scenario 1 At the grocery store at 5:30 pm. A parent has picked up his 3 year old from child care on the way home from work, and has stopped to pick up some food for dinner. The child is not patient sitting in the grocery cart and seems to want everything in sight. Every time the father says, ‘no,’ the child seems to get louder in her requests. He is losing his patience.

Scenario 2. A mother brings her 3 year old son, Kyle and 6 month old infant to the park with her cousin, who also has a young child (4 years old). The two children run to the swing set, finding that there is one working swing. Kyle immediately pushes the other boy out of the way, demanding that the swing is his. The other boy falls and starts crying. Kyle jumps on the swing and smiles.