Whether or not you have kids, you probably have an opinion on parenting.
Should moms and dads enforce rules strictly, whether their kids like it or not?
Or is it more important to let kids enjoy themselves, even if that means bending the rules sometimes?
They may not assign many tasks or chores.
Thats an argument in favor of permissiveness.
But in a given situation, which approach should you lean towards?
Fans of authoritarian parenting may say: tough cookies.
But sometimes its difficult or impossible to stand firm.
Take the classic grocery store tantrum for example.
Your kid wants to buy candy, but you dont.
Parents of only children are nodding along here: yeah, you have to do that sometimes.
But what do you do when youre shopping withthreekids?
Kids Need Rules
This doesnt mean that setting rules and saying no are lost causes.
Besides safety related rules like that one,rules that set up structure and routine are important.
You cant blame her for not being on board with a sudden surprise obligation.
I used to work a flexible schedule.
He was always beaming when I picked him up.
It only took a few days into the schedule for the outbursts to stop.
Mom, is it a day care day?
If the answer was yes, hed say Aw, man!
but go along with the routine.
So if they have some structure, at least they know whats going to happen.
And they dont waste their effort (or their tantrums) on things that are always off limits.
For example, whose teenagers are more likely to binge drink?
Permissive parentinghas also been linkedwith childrens aggressiveness, excessive television watching, and a greater likelihood of being overweight.
Thats obviously not a great approach to parenting.
The other extreme, authoritarian parenting, is also not great for kids in the long run.
They arent allowed to hurt each other or be excessively rude to their parents.
