{"id":17820,"date":"2022-11-14T10:48:58","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T10:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ritusingal.com\/?p=5189"},"modified":"2026-02-17T07:02:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:02:42","slug":"the-dynamics-of-parent-child-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdevelopmentpro.online\/ritusingal\/blog\/the-dynamics-of-parent-child-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dynamics of Parent Child Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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To begin with, parenting has never been a cakewalk, even during the best of times. Therefore, one can jolly well visualize the additional responsibilities and risks it brings in not-so-favourable times. Though globally, parenting is marked by many similarities in terms of nurturing, socializing, educating and training, we find considerable cultural differences in parenting techniques. And there is a reasonably sound logic to each one of them. Consider, for instance, the primitive farm-based cultures (which still exist in some parts of the world), in which kids are taken to be economic rather than emotional assets and are, therefore, treated like that only. Similarly, almost all tribes put great store by individual independence in sharp opposition to non-tribal cultures.<\/span><\/p>\n

The past few decades have seen a renewed interest in the importance and the effect of various parenting techniques on kids, especially in eastern vs. western cultures. This difference in parenting styles is most clearly visible in terms of a child\u2019s academic performance, self-confidence, emotional development, behaviour and coping mechanisms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read: Indian Parenting: Common Mistakes and Solutions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The history and culture of a country or area have a great impact on the prevailing parenting styles there – the Chinese culture, for instance, is significantly influenced by the Confucian philosophy of giving respect to authority, devotion to parents, emotional restraint, and education. It\u2019s no surprise, therefore, that Chinese parenting emphasizes training, governance and love. Similarly, the ancient Indian <\/span>gurukul<\/span><\/i> system, which is premised on a respect for authority, too emphasizes devotion towards parents and elders, learning and education.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having said that, this is not to dilute the importance of changing times, cultural diffusion and lateral mobility, which affect parenting methods in a big way. For example, Chinese parents are now becoming more sensitive to their children\u2019s emotions and needs and tend to provide them more independence and autonomy. Similarly, in recent years, Western parents have been having higher expectations of their children in matters of academic achievement and monitor their activities more closely.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Parent-Child Relation<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most parenting styles fall into one of these categories:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Authoritarian \u2013 disciplinarian<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Permissive – indulgent and<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Authoritative<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Evidently, authoritarian parents are strict disciplinarians, who wield the proverbial stick in parenting quite often. So, punishment here is quite common and the communication mostly happens unilaterally from parents to children. Such a parenting technique<\/a><\/strong> involves dictatorial decision-making, with children having absolutely no say in important household matters. Most often, the products of such parenting are rebellious or submissive and docile adults and face problems with authority figures in their adult lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

    My experience with parental counseling tell me that the authoritarian parenting style is quite popular with India\u2019s middle class, with the parents demanding blood, sweat and tears from their children, notably in pursuit of academic excellence. The flourishing private cram schools of Kota, which is a Rs.75,000 crore p.a. industry, is ample proof of the aggressiveness of Indian parents in this regard. On the contrary, such micro-managing of a child\u2019s lives is rarely found in Western cultures, where children don\u2019t bear the crushing burden of parental expectations. Rather, their delicate sensitivities arouse much more debate in the national discourse and on TV channels.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That such authoritarian parenting doesn\u2019t always work is clear from the rising number of the cases of depression and suicides happening among such adolescents. Every child is endowed with some unique talents; therefore, a plain vanilla approach isn\u2019t the done thing as the parents\u2019 job is to provide a conducive environment to allow their children to develop academic and social-emotional skills. Therefore, in an ideal aces scenario, the parenting style should be adapted to suit a child\u2019s unique personality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, keeping \u201cright\u201d and \u201cwrong\u201d aside, we need to appreciate that each culture emanates from its unique history and that parents always have good intentions, at least from their viewpoint. However, we can always think of what\u2019s desirable and what\u2019s not, which actions could lead to a happy, secure and independent child and which ones could lead to stubborn, defensive and angry ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

    On the other extreme of the Parent-Child Relation spectrum are permissive parents, who behave more like friends in a liberal parenting manner. Obviously, this parenting style often results in an adulthood characterized by little, if any, respect for prevailing rules and such adults have frequent problems with law.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The authoritative parenting style, in which the parents fix reasonable boundaries and also provide guidance and give the kids the freedom to decide and learn from their mistakes is considered the most beneficial in developing a well-adjusted personality later.<\/span><\/p>\n

    12 Steps to More Effective Parenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The challenges parenting throws at us may not only be tough, but may also lack a personal precedent to guide you. Such challenges have stayed with us since millennia; it\u2019s only that they have become much more diverse and difficult with time. As a case, you may never have expected your so-polite kids to turn into angry teenagers. So how do you tread the tight rope that both of you can survive and begin liking each other? Here\u2019s my list of Top Tips, based on my personal experience of raising two (fairly successful) daughters, which could render your life a little more peaceful and less horrible.<\/span><\/p>\n