Parenting Styles

Kohn: parents prepare their children for society based on their core values. Lower income families raise their children to conform and obey because these traits will be useful in working class jobs, which is the conformity style. In contrast, higher income families raise children to be creative and independent, which is the self-direction style. Children are prepared for the world of work because of parent value traits.

Lareau: parents from different social classes interact with their children in opposite ways. Middle class parents expose their children to organized activities. They discipline them by talking to their children. This is concerted cultivation because middle class parents try to control their children's routines, yet attempting to instill self-direction. In contrast, working class parents raise children that are less apart of organized activities and more likely to spend their free time with their family and friends. They have a lot of authority and discipline their children with physical punishment. This is accomplishment of natural growth because children are provided food and shelter, but their leisure time is unstructured and spontaneous.

Baumrind: There are three styles of parenting. In authoritative parenting, parents are demanding and have control over their children, but are also warm and receptive to their children. In authoritarian parenting, parents are very strict and less warm, thus the children are fearful and withdrawn. In permissive parenting, parents exercise a lot less control on their children, hence children are aggressive and out of control.

Authoritarian style of parenting is similar to Kohn's style of conformity and Lareau's concerted cultivation. Authoritative style of parenting is similar to Kohn's self direction and Lareau's accomplishment of natural growth. I like Baumrind's authoritative style of parenting the best because these parents set limits and boundaries with their children, yet they listen and respond with love towards their children.