What’s Your Parenting Style?

Parenting is a skill that can be learned. It is important to understand what your parenting style and how it may impact your child/ children. There are three parenting styles: 

1. Authoritative: Authoritative parents are nurturing and responsive but also know how to set boundaries. They give the child a space to express their views even if they do not accept it. They can manage behavior with explanation, reasoning, and discussion.  
2. Permissive: Permissive parents are warm but lax. Kids do not have many responsibilities and can regulate their behavior and the majority of their choices, allowing their children to be true to his/her nature. 
3. Uninvolved: Uninvolved parents do not set firm boundaries or high standards. They are indifferent to their children's needs and uninvolved in their lives. 

   Neglectful parents do not set firm boundaries or high standards.

Of course, there are many ways you can raise your children. Below are tips to help improve your parenting skills and stay involved! 

There are many ways to practice better parenting skills, including: 

• Spend quality time with your child/children 
• Praise them when they are good 
• Communicate  
• Set limits and practice consistency with discipline  
• Be flexible with your parenting style  
• Practice what you preach  
• Be self-aware and willing to learn along the way