Parenting style characterised by high responsiveness and low demands constitute, what we know as permissive parenting. Though parents who are permissive often tend to be loving, yet they implement few rules on their children.
Permissive parenting encourages the parents to be more like friends and less of a guide. Though it might seem good from a certain perspective, usually children who grow under permissive parents tend to be less caring and develop a carefree attitude towards life which can prove disastrous in certain circumstances.
Children who have grown under permissive parenting style often tend to struggle with self-control and self-regulation in life.
Key characteristics of Permissive Parenting Style
- The key characteristics of permissive parenting can be listed as:
- Few or little standards of behaviour.
- Rules, even when they are present are very inconsistent.
- Such parents have a nurturing and loving attitude towards children but without any self- regulation.
- Seem more like a friend than a parent.
- Often end up giving toys and gifts to their children for keeping them in control.
- Fail to provide any structure or schedule for their child’s balanced growth.
- Pay more emphasis on child’s freedom rather than any kind of responsibility.
- Take children’s point of view into consideration while taking key decisions.
Effects of Permissive Parenting
This parenting style when practiced for a long time can lead to many negative consequences in child’s personality.
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Kids could become low achievers
Children who have been raised under permissive parents are often low achievers in life. As they have not been groomed in key years, they tend to develop pessimistic view about life and often end up becoming low achievers in personal and professional life.
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They might be poor decision makers
Since such children have always been given independence in important matters, they make flaws when it comes to taking important decisions in life. They become poor decision makers and this has an effect on their professional growth also.
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Chance are that they would be more aggressive
As such children have always been given undue freedom they tend to display aggression when things do not go according to them. This can be disastrous, especially in situations when such children display aggression towards others as they can end up harming themselves and others.
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They also might have less emotional understanding
Emotional variation has always been noticed in children who have grown under permissive parents. They tend to get happy and sad easily and can create problem for others also with this kind of behaviour, when displayed on a regular basis.
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Few of them are unable to manage time, in certain cases
Since such children have always been given the freedom of thought and expression, they find it difficult when it comes to managing time effectively in their later years. This can create obvious problems in personal and professional life and can set in depression which is difficult to overcome.
The best thing that permissive parents can do to ensure the betterment of the children is to develop a schedule for the children which will help them balance their school and home life. This way, they can become better disciplined over a period; else the risk of children becoming problematic kids for everyone is a sure reality.