Posted by The day the child is born also results in the birth of a new set of parents; along with the birth of the child, a mother and a father too are ‘born’. The parents also grow, as the child grows, learning from their own experiences and from the combined wisdom of all elders and peers who keep guiding them from time to time. ‘Growth’ of the parents, or otherwise, affects the growth of the child most. There are parents who transform from being just a mother and father to being friends as the child grows whereas there is a vast majority which refuses to grow and as a result adversely affect the growth of the child; these are parents who never reach the stage of being a friend and continue to be just elders/ seniors. In my view parents can basically be classified into three types.
The ‘Hovering’ types….
The ‘hovering’ types who, like a helicopter always keep hovering on the head of the child, keeping a close check on every activity. They don’t allow any freedom of action to the child specially in matters of decision making regarding the child’s own future. They specialise in thrusting down decisions down the ‘throat’ of the child. Most of them in fact want to achieve through the child what they themselves could not achieve in their own youth. In the bargain such parents generally end up ‘stunting’ the growth of the child. Enforcing discipline is required but then empowering the child too is essential; freedom of action cannot be deprived in the name of discipline.
Partial freedom types….
The second type are the ones who keep a watch on the activities of the child from a distance, giving the child a bit of liberty of action but rush to ‘lay the bridge’ moment they see any obstacle in the path of the child. Thus, they deprive the child of opportunities to learn negotiating the obstacles life throws at them from time to time. Moment they see a child struggling in a particular subject in school, such parents in most cases without making much efforts to ascertain the reason of the child not doing so well, rush to arrange for a tutor or in worst case scenario change the subject at the first possible opportunity. Thus, the child gets used to changing the path moment he comes across an obstacle in his life journey.
‘Convince and not enforce’ types…
The third variety parents who are in a minority. These parents believe in guiding and not tutoring the child. They believe in empowering the child with the art of decision making and deciding his own future. They, instead of blindly enforcing, provide necessary inputs to the child to help him make his own decisions. I fully understand, there are kids who will try to take advantage of ‘soft’ attitude of the parents and try to trick them from time to time or emotionally blackmail them into accepting what they (kids) wants. That’s where the maturity and experience come into play. Giving freedom doesn’t mean the parents allow the child to go berserk (there are parents who do that and fail miserably as parents). The watch has to be maintained to step in at the right time to guide and convince the child; Enforcing is replaced by the art of convincing. Have patience, keep pointing out the mistakes and discussing with the child; aim should be to convey that the child ‘we know what you are up to’, and the moment the child understands that he/ she will mend ways.
Absolutely, logic works much better than any punishment on earth. That’s what I use with my kids and it doesn’t hurt my throat either by yelling at them. Where have you been my brother? Don’t disappear on me. You are a guroo when it comes to great content writing.
Thank you Bushra 😊😊 😊..
Been a bit busy ,lately, in managing the routine…
Stay blessed…
We as a couple have just got on to a path of being parents and it’s the right article at the right time for beginners like us. Nice guidelines and good article. Thanks
Thank you Lalit..
Have a blessed life
In fact parents as well as grand parents too start learning from the child..so the child himself/herself contributes to the growth of the parents …provided they are not rigid.
Yes…
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Great work! And so true! The best parenting isn’t the one where the parents push the child to do something but encourage them to be their best selves!
Yes..
Thank you
It’s an excellent post and I am so glad you wrote it. I see so many parents giving into their child’s tantrumssnd unfairly so. It’s important to raise a child well and parents have a very important responsibility at that.
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Great article, being a parent is the hardest job you will ever hold and unfortunately, there is no manual available. I love your descriptions of the different types of parents.
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Very insightful article!
Thank you
Thank you for sharing. Parenting is such a hard and thankless job. Unfortunately for parenting, a guide isn’t given. We can only do our best.
Yes we can only do our best…
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I’ve been a parent for 15 years and I’ve seen it all! The best advice I was given was “calm down”, that was aimed at me, not the child 😀
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Much research has placed great emphasis on the role parents play in their child’s development. Parents are not only caretakers, but they are instrumental in the development of their child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. Every year of a child’s life is precious, but when it comes to development, the first five are the most important. This is when a child becomes the person they are going to be. It is when they learn appropriate behaviour, boundaries, empathy and many other important social skills that will remain with them for life. Parents are another important part of the developmental equation. Infants prefer human stimuli—your face, voice, touch, and even smell—over everything else. … Most adults (and children) find infants irresistible, and instinctively want to nurture and protect them.
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There is so much research out there on this topic, while I agree with you on some topics that you’ve listed here, I don’t agree with you on everything. You can’t lump every single parent on this planet into one of these three categories you have listed here. I am one of those parents. Yes, I want to let my daughter have the freedom that she deserves so that she can find out who she is, aside from Mommy and Daddy. Yes, I try and let her make up her own mind about things – but there are certain things that a parent has to enforce upon their children. It is very important for us, as parents to remember that while it is our responsibility to raise our children and protect them, we still need to let them have some space and grow into their own in a safe, and neutral environment without worry or fear of being humiliated or in danger.
Thank you for your comments…what I have generally referred to is the mental growth..the ability to take decisions…which most parents dont allow in the name if discipline or protection…
I get what you are trying to say, but on the flip side of this – there are parents who don’t do any of this. Some parents don’t discipline their kids at all, or don’t interact with their kid, allowing them to their own devices like letting the TV run all day, to keep the kid entertained.
Everyone parents in their own way, but I think we all can try and do better, for the sake of our kids.
A very interesting post! I am not a parent… but I found this to be a great read.. I really enjoy reading your blog posts 🙂
Thank you Alexandra…
God bless you
Yes parents must grow themselves and model what they want to see in the child. Always respect and love the child too
Yes…
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As a parent of 2 young boys, I often change my approach if my current one is not working. It’s definitely a balance- you want your child to succeed, and it is very hard when they don’t. It’s a learning process each and every day!
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As much as possible, I don’t want to classify parents or their parenting style. While I was reading your post, I didn’t see myself in any of those. I am a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Parenting style depends on the age of the child, their needs, and their level of development. My parenting style to my 4-yr old son is different from my 1-yr old daughter.
For example, my son is only 4 years old. I am not a hovering type, but I do most of the decisions for him so he will know what is right and wrong. Or else, all I will hear from him is ‘No’ (one of their favorite words). I am also not a partial freedom type, but I help my son when he is struggling, for example, in writing. If I will not ‘lay the bridge’ or help him or tutor him, then my son will never learn how to write and will just play all day. I am also not a convince and not enforce types, but I do empower my son to make good decisions, for example on choosing good toys or good movies (he is only 4!).
The article is about mental growth of child and how parents facilitate or hamper it…First five or six years of age all parents are same..but the aim should sleays be to coach and not tutor…even three years old love to use their brain ..let them….
Thank you..
Gid bless
It’s so hard to raise children! Balance is key!
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God bless you
It is after up to the parent’s to raise their children. And that includes structure and discipline. And I agree, the only yelling allowed in any house should be only when there’s a fire. LOL. xo, Suzanne
My kids are in college now, but I like to think that I raised them to be open minded adults that go after their dreams. I never pushed my dreams for them on them. I just encouraged whatever they came up with
Your kids are blessed to have you as a parent….Thank you…God bless….
I totally agree with your three types of parents. I would add “the pushover” maybe.
Thank you….God bless
Right now, I fall into partial freedom. I have twin 5 year old boys. I would love to reach the point to where I can let them guide themselves. Parenting is a journey for sure!
Most of us pass through different stages of parenting…unfortunately there is vast majority which refuses to grow and in the bargain don’t allow the kids to grow…be themselves…Thank you…..God bless
Those are interesting concepts on parenting. The advice is important to improve the relationship with your children.
Thank you…God bless
Everything has evolved so much. Growing up if I didn’t respond quick I will be considered disrespectful. It was very strict and I distinctly remember when my grandmother slapped my mom for answering back. In raising my daughter I went the opposite at reasoning instead of spanking. I see a little bit of this and that in your description for me.
Thank you…God bless you
Totally agree, parents often start behaving immature once their children start growing up. It is really important for parents to grow up and mature in better ways
Yes..
Thank you
God bless you
As a parent it took me a while to understand that encouragement comes before direction. Your posts are always an interesting read.
Thank you.
God bless you
Time has changed and the way we raise our children has changed dramatically when we were growing up. There is no best method for your child as every child is different. As parents, we need to adapt to situations according to gain a comprehensive judgment. Good luck to us all.
Right..
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Yes!!!! This is brilliant. Is there another way to describe it than “convince”. I try to explain this way of parenting to people and somethings feel they see it as manipulating them 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you..
God bless you..
You may call it participative..where parents and children together work towards findibg a better solution…parents suggest and guide and the child decides what to do….he takes an informed decision..
I was brought up with the partially freedom type of parents . I won’t blame them but I appreciate that they’ve now grown and now, our last one is much guided and that’s better.
Thank you..
Stay blessed
Lots of mistakes being a first time parent. Important to learn & grow with your child. Great post!
Yes .
Thank you ..
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It’s important to let the child pick what it wants to do in the future, and parents are there to support the decision.
Yes..thank you.
God bless you
Great insights for parents of new born baby. Your tips will certainly help them.
Thank you..God bless you
Indeed such great points! I am not yet a parent but I would definitely be like this when in times of raising my kids in the future.
Thank you Jona..
Gid bless
I am not a parent yet but I think I would be a partial parent. I would give my child freedom but step in when I need to.
Good.
God bless you
Parenting is definitely a growth process. It takes time. And it takes the ability to step back and allow your child to grow. But that’s hard to do sometimes because you want to have your child succeed and hate seeing them fail.
That’s the balance parents have to maintain..
God bless you
I don’t have kids myself, but it’s great to have tools to help my friends out. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you.
God bless you
I grow up with my grandparents and they were cool allowing me some freedom and would punish me if I go overboard…..there’s balance as to how they impose rules….cool grandparents…..
Yes..
God bless you
This is a great post about parenting. There are great tips here. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you..
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This is a post that a lot of parents could relate. It is funny to read because all are true. What an inspiring mix of stories and experiences.
Thank you Hannah.
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Hey this article is really worth a read..
I am not a parent yet, but trust me i can relate to so many points ..not only that I have got a broader perspective of how parents think..
I am glad to have read this article ..
Cheers 👍👍
Thank you Neha..
God bless you
I am not a mum yet. But I am sure I will know how’s that feel to be parent one day
Right..
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Great post! I would love to say I’m the third type of parent, but if I’m honest I think I lean more towards the second. This is definitely eye opening. I always saw it as I’m protecting my child, but letting them learn on their own for the most part. I now see how it can stunt their ability to avoid obstacles if I never allow them to face any! I will definitely strive to convince not enforce! Thanks for helping me become the best parent I can be!
-Veronica Olafsen
Thank you Veronica..
God bless you
As a preschool teacher, I see the many types of parents throughout the years. And in a country where the parents dictate the kid’s future (due to exams and the pursuit of money), I see a lot of helicopter moms. I understand their needs but it can be too much for the kid.
Yes…stay blessed..
both kids and parents work for hand in hand to grow and nurture each other to be better, wiser and happier 🙂
Yes..
Thank you
Amazing post and being a parent is hard sometimes .
Thank you..
God bless you
Authoritative parents that set boundaries, expectations, and provide guidance are ususally the most successful.
Thank you for your views…..
But I would like to disagree on this…provide guidance and the right information is correct but I’m posting authority and setting expectations may not be..
God bless you
Certainly an interesting and thought-provoking read. I am not a parent yet but used to work for a parenting service so this interested me greatly!
Thank you..
God bless you
This is a very interesting way of thinking about it. I really like the perspectives that you have broken it down into.
Thank you.
God bless you
I completely agree! I’m not a parent but I’ve seen other young parents grow out of their immaturity once they have the baby. It’s weird and I didn’t understand till I read this.
We were just talking about this at my job. As a teacher, we really have to learn to let the kids learn. Rushing in to help when they can’t solve, doesn’t really help THEM learn to solve. Completely applicable to life outside of school as well.
Right.
Thank you..
God bless you
I am so glad that I did not choose what my parents would have wanted me to. They did not force me but they really wanted me to become an engineer. I chose my own path and they supported me throughout.
Good for you.
Stay blessed
I don’t have kids but I would like to. This was a great read for someone planning to have a family in the future!
Thank you..
Gid bless
Thank you for sharing though I’m not yet a parent this is a good advice and very helpful when I settle down and decided to have kids.
Thank you.
Stay blessed
Thank you for sharing though I’m not yet a parent this is a good advice and helpful when I settled down and decided to have kids someday.
I enjoyed reading this post. You are so right when you say that parents should not force a future on their kids. As parents, we are supposed to encourage our kids to dream and guide them.
Yes..thank you
God bless you
This us such a great post for parents! I am working on being more convincing by giving my girls two options and letting them choosem
That’s nice.
Thank you
God bless you
As always, your posts are always inspirational. I enjoy reading every bit of what you have to say. Thank you as always.
Thank you so much.
God bless you