Introduction
Parenting is a holistic process of raising children to protect them, prepare them to be responsible adults, and instill values in them. Different parenting styles have different outcomes, and a parent can choose a technique aligned with the desired result. Research on parenting style is paramount because it informs the best methods of raising children to achieve a specified outcome. The critical question for investigation is whether the authoritarian parenting style guarantees obedient, happy, and physically active children. The presence of unhappy and physically inactive children raised by strict parents sparked the interest to research more and determined the parenting styles’ impact. It is believed that children raised by authoritative parents are likely to be law-abiding, while the ones presented by permissive be unhappy and have problems with authorities. An authoritarian parenting style does not guarantee active and happy children because other environmental factors and peer influence affect their well-being.
Parents are the major inhibitors or proponents of their children’s physical activity. There are both direct and indirect ways in which parents may promote their children’s physical activities. Direct reinforcement includes offering transport to the training facilities, purchasing equipment, and participating in physical activity with the child. On the other hand, indirect support methods include modeling and explaining to their children the perceived competence. Whereas the authoritative parenting style requires that the parents are more involved and take indirect roles, the permissive manner does not exert undue pressure on the children but supports whatever the children choose. It is, however, imperative to note that no matter how strict a parent is, selecting a physical activity against a child’s will may jeopardize the efforts to make the child physically active (Candelanza et al., 2021). There is no one-fit-all parenting style, and parents must analyze their children’s likes and dislikes and direct them to success.
Shortcomings of the Authoritarian Parenting Style
The authoritarian parenting style is the strictest and requires the children to follow all orders issued without compromise or discussions. When a parent needs the child to be physically active, the parent using the style, commands the child to engage in physical activities without inquiring what the children prefer. Research by Bi et al. (2018) inferred that parents using the style might successfully produce physically active and aggressive children but who are unable to make their personal decisions and may experience low self-esteem. Such children work hard to impress their parents and may not perform better when the parents are not around to offer strict supervision. Further, children raised using the style lack the ability to speak their minds and explain what they want since the parents are the key decision-makers. As a result, the parenting style produces people who cannot handle social situations as the technique teaches them to take orders and not develop solutions to social challenges.
The world is changing courtesy of exposure to the internet and peer learning. Although children have their parents as primary educators on physical fitness, they have other sources of information for comparison. Perez-Gramaje et al. (2020) proposed that contemporary parenting should instill children with creativity because the world is dynamic and require creative minds to survive. Since children raised in the authoritarian style rarely think independently, they copy the role model offered by their parents. Consequently, some of the acquired traits may be challenging globally. When children choose to advance their talents and their parents support them, they are more likely to be physically active than those forced to be active against their will. The viewpoint that the authoritarian method instills discipline is counteracted by a different view that instills fear and makes a child unable to make rational decisions.
Theoretical Framework
Diana Baumrind created a theory on the relationship between parenting style and the consequence. She claims that the interaction between the child and parent significantly impacts their development. The children can make decisions when the instructions are clear, and there is no undue pressure. Baumrind argues that successful children require love, warmth, and a listening ear to hear their opinion. Successful parenting is achieved when a parent interacts with a child to understand their talents before imposing physical activity (Candelanza et al., 2021). When a child is not interested in physical activities, the parent should explain the impacts of not being physically active. Once a child decides to undertake the activity from the point of knowledge and understanding, they are likely to perform better in the common areas. An analysis of the theory leads to the conclusion that there is no one fits all parenting style because of the numerous changes happening in the contemporary world. Instead, a parent must develop a relationship with the child for success.
Personal Opinion
The provided literature underscores the shortcomings of the authoritarian style and proves that it does not guarantee physical fitness in children. I agree with the literature because parenting styles can only guarantee positive outcomes when the children’s opinions and interests are understood as the world changes. There is no one-fit-all parenting style, as the children’s exposure to technology, peers, and schools may jeopardize the outcome. Therefore, the best parenting style must focus on creating a positive relationship between parents and children.
Conclusion
Parenting style plays a significant role in a child’s life. Each selected technique may have predetermined outcomes. Each method has a predetermined effect, and a parent may choose the one they think will care for their children’s needs. It is imperative to note that the authoritarian parenting style does not guarantee success or physical activeness in a child since other external factors control them. Parents should therefore focus on creating a positive relationship with their children for success.
References
Bi, X., Yang, Y., Li, H., Wang, M., Zhang, W., & Deater-Deckard, K. (2018). Parenting styles and parent-adolescent relationships: The mediating roles of behavioral autonomy and parental authority. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2187. Web.
Candelanza, A. L., Buot, E. Q. C., & Merin, J. A. (2021). Diana Baumrind’s parenting style and child’s academic performance: A Tie-in. Psychol. Educ. J, 58, 1553-6939. [PDF Document]. Web.
Perez-Gramaje, A. F., Garcia, O. F., Reyes, M., Serra, E., & Garcia, F. (2020). Parenting styles and aggressive adolescents: relationships with self-esteem and personal maladjustment. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. Web.