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Parenting style is defined as a system of beliefs, practices, and attitudes that parents adopt to raise and interact with their children. The type of parenting style parents adopt can play a significant role in shaping their child's future, confidence level, emotions, and many other aspects of their development. It is also important to note that parenting style can be an ever-evolving process that incorporates both traditional and modern beliefs.
Choosing the right parenting style is important for a healthy parent-child relationship. It may also fulfill your child's physiological and emotional needs, helping them achieve great things in life. Indian parenting styles can be categorized into various types, each with distinct characteristics.
Traditional Indian parenting style can be characterized by its deep-rooted cultural beliefs. These stem from a long-standing heritage and practices. Generally, conventional Indian parenting is extremely disciplined and structured. It may also demand a lot of obedience and respect from the end of a child. For a better understanding, here are some of the common traditional Indian parenting styles.
This is a type of traditional parenting style in which academic success is considered the primary goal of a child's life. A child's respect, acceptance, and capabilities are solely determined by their ability to perform in an exam. Parents may also pay attention to providing proper academic support to the child. Due to consistent academic pressure, a child may begin to determine their worth by their ability to crack an exam.
Modern Alternative- The modern alternative to achievement-oriented parenting is growth-oriented parenting. In this style of parenting, more focus is put on emotional, mental, and overall well-being. The child can be encouraged to learn from their failures and pursue different types of interests and careers.
This is a type of parenting in which parents may differentiate between kids on the basis of their gender. In such a scenario, the male child might be given more preference and freedom as compared to the female child. Practices such as strict curfews for girls and not promoting higher education may be observed in such households. Moreover, it may also impact a girl child’s future choices and the opportunities that she gets.
Modern Alternative- The modern alternative for the same is gender-neutral parenting. It is a type of parenting that overcomes the restrictions of traditional gender norms in the country. Such parents may believe in providing equal opportunities to kids, irrespective of their gender. Both girls and boys may be given equal support and opportunities to achieve great things in life.
This type of parenting believes in strong family values and adopts a collectivist approach. Instead of giving children the freedom to make their own decisions, parents might make decisions for them for a long time. It often comes from a place of concern and love. However, sometimes the child may feel restricted and not get the liberty to make their own decisions. Such a type of parenting may encourage dependency and a lack of decision-making skills among kids.
Modern Alternative- The Modern alternative to overprotective parenting is supportive parenting. In this type of parenting approach, more autonomy and freedom are given to kids. It may also help a child make their decisions more confidently. As a child grows up, they may also begin to take up their responsibilities without any hesitation.
In this type of parenting approach, Indian parents may prioritize discipline over expressing their emotions and love to the child. Such parents may act formidable and find it extremely difficult to express themselves and have deep conversations with their kids. This philosophy may stem from the ‘tough’ parenting mindset. In such a scenario, the child may have a strained relationship with their parents.
Modern Alternative - The modern alternative to this is emotionally attuned parenting. In this type of parenting, parents and kids may be able to have open and deep conversations. Parents may occasionally display signs of affection and offer encouraging words to their children to make them feel loved.
A strong sense of structure and command can characterize authoritarian parenting. This includes a family dynamic where parents can be extremely strict, demanding, and keep their child disciplined. Indian parents may also use measures such as extreme control and punishment to ensure that their child follows the rules. This style of parenting is characterized by its highly stubborn structure. The child may not have any emotional outlet, and their parents can make the majority of the decisions about their life.
Modern Alternative- A phenomenal alternative to authoritarian parenting is conscious discipline parenting. In this type of parenting, parents focus on disciplining their child by ensuring mutual respect and trust. Parents may show empathy while also constructing clear boundaries. The child may be aware of their responsibilities while also having strong support at home.
Parenting is a dynamic process that can help a child transition from childhood to adulthood. Adopting a hybrid and flexible approach may work well for parents to understand and care for their children effectively.