ADOLESCENT CONTROL AND PARENTING WARMTH

The toughest job you’ll ever love is being a parent.

Two key factors that helped me identify my own parenting method and the impact of parenting style are the level of control and level of affection in the relationship with your child. It is simply one concept involving these.

Control simply refers to the extent of power exercised by you on the behavior of your child.

Does your child have to abide to certain strict rules set by you? What is your response when your child disobeys you?

Level of loving your child is not the warmth shown by you but the method and frequency of demonstration of your love is important. During the day, do you occasionally spend time with your child in joint activities or show your affection by kissing or cuddling him or by expressing love and praise?

These two factors combined reflect your parental style and forms one of the following four parenting types:

·         More control – more warmth

·         Less control – more warmth

·         More control – less warmth

·         Less control – less warmth            

It is evident that this is too simplified because at different circumstances and actions, parents have to alter their reactions. As a result no parent falls 100 % to any particular group.

As a parent, viewing these factors and applying them in your relationship with your child could help you recognize your strong points and your mistakes which can be improved after recognizing it.