Why is the Type of Parenting Style Very Important in Educating Children?

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JAKARTA - Parenting style is a way that parents use to raise children, including behavioral patterns, attitudes, and emotional environments. Developmental psychologists have long studied how parents affect children's development, although it is difficult to prove a causal relationship definitively.

The Four Parenting Styles (According to Baumrind)

In the 1960s, reported Very Well Family, Sunday, February 22, psychologist Diana Baumrind conducted a study on more than 100 preschool children. Using naturalistic observation, parent interviews, and other research methods, she identified four types of parenting styles.

Authoritarian (Otoriter)

Tends to set strict rules without explanation, demanding absolute compliance. Mistakes are usually severely punished. This style increases compliance, but can trigger anxiety, low independence, and low intrinsic motivation.

Authoritative (Give Authority with Support)

Parents set clear rules but remain warm, listening, and supportive. When children fail to meet expectations, parents are more nurturing than punitive. This style helps children develop responsibility, self-regulation, and independence.

Permissive

Parents are very warm and understanding, but rarely set rules or discipline. Children are allowed to make their own decisions. Although it can foster independence, this style often causes problems with self-regulation, school performance, and often engages in risky behavior.

Uninvolved (Acuh Tak Acuh)

Parents only meet the basic physical needs of the child but have minimal emotional or regulatory involvement. Children tend to have difficulty in self-control, reliability, and are more prone to delinquency and emotional problems.

Parenting Style Impact on Children

Academic: Healthy styles such as authoritative often support learning achievement and motivation. Extreme styles (authoritarian, permissive, indifferent) usually have negative effects.

Mental & Emotional: Children with non-authoritative parenting styles are more prone to problems such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Social & Adult Relationships: Parenting styles shape children's ability to build relationships, regulate emotions, and face the challenges of adult life.

Style and Ways to Be a More Authoritative Parent

Many families exhibit a mix of parenting styles. For example, a mother may be more authoritative, while a father is more permissive. This can lead to mixed signals for children.

To direct to the authoritative style, there are several steps that can be taken, namely:

Listen to the child actively Make clear rules and explain them Involve the child in the decision Apply the rules consistently, with fair and educational consequences Research Boundaries Parenting Styles

The relationship between parenting styles and behavior is based on correlational research, which is useful for finding relationships between variables. However, such research cannot establish definite causal relationships.

Many of the results found are from correlational studies, so they cannot fully state the cause-and-effect. Child characteristics can also affect parenting styles. For example, a difficult child can make parents more permissive or indifferent. Cultural factors, child temperament, and perceptions of parental treatment also determine the outcome of child development.

Parenting styles have a real impact on children's development, especially in terms of self-esteem, emotional regulation, and social relationships. A balanced authoritative style of demands and support generally provides the best results. However, the combination of approaches according to the child's culture, situation, and uniqueness remains important to note. Parents can also try to gradually switch to a more involved and supportive style.