Dangers of Permissive Parenting
Case Study
Let's meet the Smiths. John and Sarah, have been married for 10 years and during that time they had two children. Emma and Jack, Emma is 5 years old and Jack is 9. Emma is a sensitive child who craves attention and affection from her parents. Where Jack is a curious and energetic child who enjoys exploring and experimenting with new things. John is working as an engineer, and Sarah is a stay-at-home mom. They live together in a suburban neighborhood and are active members of their local church.
Now let's look at the different parenting styles and examples of how Sarah and John demonstrate each one:
Authoritarian Parenting:
John and Sarah believe in setting strict rules for their children, and they expect them to follow them without question. When rules are broken the punishments for breaking the rules are overly harsh and they are immediate. John and Sarah believe that this style of parenting will help their children become disciplined and responsible adults.
Effects on kids: Emma under authoritarian parenting becomes fearful and anxious, which leads to a lack of self-esteem. She struggles to find her own identity and often finds herself wondering if she is enough. Jack becomes rebellious and resentful of authority figures, which leads to conflict with his parents and other authority figures in his life.
Permissive Parenting:
Sarah is a nurturing mother who loves to spoil her children. She is hesitant to say “no” to their requests and often gives in to their demands because she doesn’t want to cause problems and make them upset. John is more authoritative but is often too busy with work to be actively involved in his children’s lives. He trusts Sarah to make most of the parenting decisions, even though he sometimes disagrees with her methods.
Effects on kids: Emma becomes spoiled and entitled, she is lacking in self-control and does not have a lot of respect for authority. She often makes impulsive decisions with little to no care for the consequences. Jack may lack self-discipline and become impulsive, leading to poor decision-making and possibly negative consequences.
Authoritative Parenting:
John and Sarah try to maintain a balance between setting clear expectations for their children while also being responsive to their needs. They believe in explaining their decisions to their children and allowing them to have some input in family decision-making. They use positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviors and are consistent in their parenting approach.
Effects on kids: Under authoritative parenting, she may become confident and self-assured, with a healthy balance of independence and respect for rules. She knows how to make good decisions and has a good relationship with her parents. Jack may develop strong critical thinking skills and a sense of responsibility, leading to success in school and later in life.
What can we take from this?
We can take away from this case study that parenting styles can have a profound impact on a child’s development and overall well-being. Finding a balance between setting rules and being responsive to a child’s needs is crucial for their growth and success. By understanding the different parenting styles and their potential effects, parents can make informed decisions about how to raise their children.
Connections to Education
Teachers need to be aware of the dangers involved in permissive parenting for several reasons:
- This could lead to different behavior types in the classroom, the teacher needs to know the correct response for each child.
- Especially in meetings with parents, teachers need to know how to respond to each parenting type to help maintain respect between both parent and teacher.
- Teachers can cater to the strengths and weaknesses of students.
Concept Summary: Dangers of Permissive Parenting
ED 304: Ed Psych and Human Development
Author: Lahna McClaine
Validated By: Emma Canann (1/28/23)
Disclosure: ChatGPT was used in the creation of this resource
Summary:
- Permissive parenting, also known as indulgent parenting, is a parenting style characterized by a lack of rules and discipline, high levels of warmth and responsiveness, and a tendency to give in to children's demands. Permissive parenting can be detrimental to children's development in several ways.
- One issue with permissive parenting is that children who are raised in this way may struggle with self-regulation and impulse control. Without clear rules and boundaries, children may have difficulty understanding what is and isn't appropriate behavior. This can lead to problems with disobedience and defiance as they get older.
- Additionally, children raised by permissive parents may have difficulty forming secure attachments to others and may struggle with independence and self-sufficiency. Without consistent discipline and structure, children may have difficulty learning how to delay gratification and make healthy choices.
- Furthermore, permissive parenting can lead to children having a sense of entitled and underdeveloped empathy, children raised in this environment may come to expect special treatment, and may have difficulty understanding the perspectives of others.
- It's important to note that, while permissive parenting can have negative effects, it is not necessarily harmful in all cases, it depends on the specific situation and the child's individual needs. Permissive parenting does not mean that parents should not be involved in their children's lives and not set expectations for them, but it does imply that the parents are less strict with the rules and less likely to enforce them, as well as less likely to use rewards and punishment as a means of guidance. Additionally, parents can shift their parenting style over time as they learn and adapt to their child's needs.
Further Readings:
- Continue reading with Kendra Cherry in her online article “Permissive Parenting Characteristics and Effects” as she goes further into the repercussions of this parenting type and what it looks like in action at https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-permissive-parenting-2794957
- “Permissive Parenting Style” by Tracie Trautner (online article): This article provides a detailed explanation of permissive parenting and its implications for children in their development as well as examples of permissive parenting. It can be accessed online at https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/permissive_parenting_style
What is one potential negative outcome of permissive parenting?
Children learning appropriate boundaries and discipline
Children becoming independent and self-motivated
Children having difficulty with self-control and impulse control
Children learning to make good choices
Which of the following is an example of permissive parenting?
Setting clear rules and consequences for children
Allowing children to do whatever they want without any repercussions
Being very strict and controlling with children
Encourage children to set and achieve goals on their own
True or false: Children raised by permissive parents tend to struggle with self-regulation and impulse control.
True
False
Which of the following is an example of permissive parenting? Select all that apply:
Setting a bedtime for children and enforcing it consistently
Allowing children to make their own decisions without guidance or consequences
Encouraging children to set and achieve goals independently
Offering rewards and punishments based on children's behavior
Being involved in children's lives and monitoring their activities
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Access it online or download it at https://books.byui.edu/development_motivati/NJFCTmdM.