Influence of parenting styles

Student Name
Instructor
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Parenting Styles
Introduction
The social development of a child is often determined by the stimuli, both social and cognitive that they come into contact with during their growth. In most cases, a child is in the hands of their parents. It makes a parent more significant in the child’s life. Their impact may either be positive or negative. The article “Influence of parenting styles on the social development of children” by Mensah, Monicah Konnie, Kurachie, and Alfred, published in November 2013, is an article that attempts to discuss how a child’s social development can be affected by parenting styles.
Summary
Today, people are giving parenting styles more attention as these styles reflect how a child develops. Different societies have different parenting styles according to the societal needs. This article aimed at ascertaining dominant parenting approaches in the area of study and the impact these approaches have on a child’s development. It also hoped to offer recommendations to parenting styles.
Several steps were used during the collection and gathering of information for the research. To begin with, a descriptive survey design was used. The survey comprised of teachers and pupils from schools of Brong Ahafo in Ghana. A total of four hundred and eighty pupils, sixteen teachers were randomly selected. A questionnaire was then developed to gather data from the students. The questionnaire had two sections; section ‘A’ that contained the students’ data and section ‘B’ that contained the perceived parenting styles of the student’s parents.

The researchers then obtained permission from the schools’ authority as well as the pupil’s consent. Finally, they administered the instruments to the respondents. The statistical package for social services was used in analyzing the data collected. The results of the study concluded that most of the parents in the study area seemed to have adopted the authoritative parenting styles (Mensah 128)
The research concluded that there is a relationship between a child’s social development and parenting styles. The kind of parenting style and activities that a child experiences, have a great impact on the child’s development. Children whose parents treat their kids as rational beings through showing caring and responsiveness can avoid risky behaviors. It also showed that children whose parents are authoritative are socially competent compared to those of authoritarian approach who are viewed to be socially incompetent. The study was advisable for the parents to adopt the authoritative approach to parenting as it helps in shaping a child’s pro-social behavior. This style involves showing acts of care and warmth to the children. On the other hand, an authoritarian approach referred to parenting style that was based on strict rules, verbal and physical punishments as well as threats resulted in anti-social behavior (Mensah 128)
Why this research is important
This research is very important in various ways. To begin with, it helps individuals realize how a parent’s interaction and parenting skills affect a child’s psychological and social development of a child. Secondly, the research helps a parent identify the negative and positive impacts associated with different approaches to parenting. It can, therefore, be concluded that parenting styles are great determinants of a child’s growth as they affect how a child interacts with others in the society. Parents should, therefore, choose the appropriate and effective parenting approaches as they raise their children to help shape their children’s development. Counselors and Educators can also help parents nurture their children through forums such as parental meetings and open days where they can educate parents on different parenting styles and how they impact a child’s social development. It will help in better parental skills for children resulting in children with cherished and admirable values.
Work Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY l 1033 Mensah, Monicah Konnie, Kurachie, Alfred. “Influence of Parenting Styles on the social Development of Children.” Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (2013): 128. Document.