Authoritative vs. Authoritarian or Permissive Parents
By Nancy Samalin
The media have recently highlighted a fundamental debate among parenting experts: To be a drill sergeant or an empathic listener? To spank or not to spank? To punish or to teach?
In more than two decades as a parent educator, I firmly believe that effective discipline means setting firm limits while, at the same time, treating children with respect and dignity. This is authoritative, not punitive, parenting. What’s the difference?
Example: Your children are fighting about which TV show to watch. The authoritarian parent bellows, “That’s enough! No more TV for a week! That’ll teach you kids to get along.” This parent dictates her solution, and the children have no opportunity to solve their own problems or learn to cooperate. They may be resentful but are too fearful to express their true feelings.
The authoritative parent says in calm, clear voice, “If you two can work out a way to share your TV time, you’re welcome to watch. If not, the television goes off.” This parent uses firm discipline (stating a consequence that will result if the squabbling continues), but also guides children respectfully toward working out their own solution—and then follows through. If she doesn’t follow through, she is not a credible parent and her statement becomes an empty threat that her kids won’t take seriously.
The problem with the authoritarian (“Do it because I say so!”) approach is that it uses adult muscle to force youngsters to obey. This may work in the short run. But over time, children may become more defiant and disobedient. Some may become sneaky and do the same thing again but are more careful not to get caught. A child who’s constantly under a parent’s thumb will find ways to evade or avoid the rules.
Here are some tips to help you become a more effective parent without becoming a pushover or a dictator:
Choose your battles. Parents and children have conflicting needs. Adults need to hurry. Kids want to dawdle. We want some order. They like to make messes. Clashes are inevitable, but don’t get pulled into every skirmish. One of my favorite maxims is “If you’re not selective, you’re not effective.” Decide what’s really important to you, like leaving the house on time in the morning without yelling or tantrums – yours or theirs. Talk to kids at night about how to get ready on time the next morning. (For example: Set out clothes together and makes lunches that evening, or have a check list of what needs to be done to avoid “morning madness.” This way you’ll all begin the day on a happier note.)
Talk less. Children become “parent deaf” when we endlessly lecture, nag, command, criticize, cajole. They’ve heard it all before, so they tune us out. To get children to listen, the trick is to shorten the message. Brevity is authority. Instead of preaching about how messy their rooms are, make a brief impersonal comment that describes what needs to be done: “Those dirty clothes belong in the hamper” or “Books go on the shelf.”
Set clear, firm limits. Example: Before your son goes to a friend’s house, let him know exactly what time he must come home. If you arrive to pick him up and he begs to stay longer, you can say, “I know you’re having a good time, but it’s six o’clock.” If he resists, don’t be ambivalent by saying, “Okay, just five more minutes.” Don’t argue. Simply state, “Six o’clock was our agreement. We need to go now.”
Use consequences instead of punishment. Example: Your child leaves his new roller blades outside overnight after you’ve reminded him to bring them inside. They’re stolen. An authoritarian parent would lecture: “I warned you, but you never listen to me. You got just what you deserved! That’s the last time I’ll buy you anything expensive.”
That won’t teach him to be more careful with his things. It will only make him angry, inept, or resentful toward you. Instead, you could take an authoritative: “I can see you’re upset that your roller blades are gone and that you’ll have to do without them. Maybe you can think of a way to earn some money toward another pair.” An empathic response like this one teaches a lesson in responsibility without being punitive.
Express your anger without insult. It’s only human to get upset when kids disobey or provoke us. Parents have a right to feel angry, but we don’t have any right to hurt, insult, belittle, or frighten children.
If you’re about to explode, take an “adult time-out” to cool off. You could say, “I’ll be in my room for 10 minutes, and we’ll discuss this when I come out.” Parents who use demeaning language or lash out physically fail to teach respect because they’re being disrespectful toward the child. This doesn’t help a child develop a conscience, and spanking models the very behavior that we want children to avoid.
Respect is a two-way street: Kids learn it best if we model it. They won’t learn to respect themselves or others if respect has not been given to them. Another way to show respect is to listen to your child, especially when he is upset. Listening closely – without interrupting or injecting adult answers – shows you are really interested and care about him.
Though they don’t always show it and probably won’t thank you at that moment, children really do want parents to provide safe, predictable structure in their lives. We can do that by being an authoritative parent who sets limits on behavior, but also treats kids the way we all want to be treated – with love, dignity and respect.
By Nancy Samalin
The media have recently highlighted a fundamental debate among parenting experts: To be a drill sergeant or an empathic listener? To spank or not to spank? To punish or to teach?
In more than two decades as a parent educator, I firmly believe that effective discipline means setting firm limits while, at the same time, treating children with respect and dignity. This is authoritative, not punitive, parenting. What’s the difference?
Example: Your children are fighting about which TV show to watch. The authoritarian parent bellows, “That’s enough! No more TV for a week! That’ll teach you kids to get along.” This parent dictates her solution, and the children have no opportunity to solve their own problems or learn to cooperate. They may be resentful but are too fearful to express their true feelings.
The authoritative parent says in calm, clear voice, “If you two can work out a way to share your TV time, you’re welcome to watch. If not, the television goes off.” This parent uses firm discipline (stating a consequence that will result if the squabbling continues), but also guides children respectfully toward working out their own solution—and then follows through. If she doesn’t follow through, she is not a credible parent and her statement becomes an empty threat that her kids won’t take seriously.
The problem with the authoritarian (“Do it because I say so!”) approach is that it uses adult muscle to force youngsters to obey. This may work in the short run. But over time, children may become more defiant and disobedient. Some may become sneaky and do the same thing again but are more careful not to get caught. A child who’s constantly under a parent’s thumb will find ways to evade or avoid the rules.
Here are some tips to help you become a more effective parent without becoming a pushover or a dictator:
Choose your battles. Parents and children have conflicting needs. Adults need to hurry. Kids want to dawdle. We want some order. They like to make messes. Clashes are inevitable, but don’t get pulled into every skirmish. One of my favorite maxims is “If you’re not selective, you’re not effective.” Decide what’s really important to you, like leaving the house on time in the morning without yelling or tantrums – yours or theirs. Talk to kids at night about how to get ready on time the next morning. (For example: Set out clothes together and makes lunches that evening, or have a check list of what needs to be done to avoid “morning madness.” This way you’ll all begin the day on a happier note.)
Talk less. Children become “parent deaf” when we endlessly lecture, nag, command, criticize, cajole. They’ve heard it all before, so they tune us out. To get children to listen, the trick is to shorten the message. Brevity is authority. Instead of preaching about how messy their rooms are, make a brief impersonal comment that describes what needs to be done: “Those dirty clothes belong in the hamper” or “Books go on the shelf.”
Set clear, firm limits. Example: Before your son goes to a friend’s house, let him know exactly what time he must come home. If you arrive to pick him up and he begs to stay longer, you can say, “I know you’re having a good time, but it’s six o’clock.” If he resists, don’t be ambivalent by saying, “Okay, just five more minutes.” Don’t argue. Simply state, “Six o’clock was our agreement. We need to go now.”
Use consequences instead of punishment. Example: Your child leaves his new roller blades outside overnight after you’ve reminded him to bring them inside. They’re stolen. An authoritarian parent would lecture: “I warned you, but you never listen to me. You got just what you deserved! That’s the last time I’ll buy you anything expensive.”
That won’t teach him to be more careful with his things. It will only make him angry, inept, or resentful toward you. Instead, you could take an authoritative: “I can see you’re upset that your roller blades are gone and that you’ll have to do without them. Maybe you can think of a way to earn some money toward another pair.” An empathic response like this one teaches a lesson in responsibility without being punitive.
Express your anger without insult. It’s only human to get upset when kids disobey or provoke us. Parents have a right to feel angry, but we don’t have any right to hurt, insult, belittle, or frighten children.
If you’re about to explode, take an “adult time-out” to cool off. You could say, “I’ll be in my room for 10 minutes, and we’ll discuss this when I come out.” Parents who use demeaning language or lash out physically fail to teach respect because they’re being disrespectful toward the child. This doesn’t help a child develop a conscience, and spanking models the very behavior that we want children to avoid.
Respect is a two-way street: Kids learn it best if we model it. They won’t learn to respect themselves or others if respect has not been given to them. Another way to show respect is to listen to your child, especially when he is upset. Listening closely – without interrupting or injecting adult answers – shows you are really interested and care about him.
Though they don’t always show it and probably won’t thank you at that moment, children really do want parents to provide safe, predictable structure in their lives. We can do that by being an authoritative parent who sets limits on behavior, but also treats kids the way we all want to be treated – with love, dignity and respect.
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