Be an Authoritative Parent

Parents must have a strong sense of their moral authority – their right to be respected and obeyed. Psychologist Diana Baumrind’s research has identified three styles of parenting: authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive. Permissive parents are high on affection but low on authority. By contrast, authoritative parents are high on authority, reasoning, fairness, and love. The authoritative parent “explains reasons behind demands, encourages give and take, and sets standards and enforces them firmly but does not regard self as infallible.” Baumrind finds that at all age levels, the most self-confident and socially responsible children have authoritative parents.  To establish an authoritative parenting style, we should have a zero tolerance policy for disrespectful speech and behaviour. When kids engage in disrespectful back-talk, they need immediate corrective feedback (“What is your tone of voice”, “You are not allowed to speak to me in that way, even if you’re upset.”). Allowing our children to speak to us disrespectfully will quickly erode their respect for our moral authority, our rules, our example, and our teaching.

http://psychology.about.com/od/childcare/f/authoritative-parenting.htm

Mrs Annie Williams, School Counsellor