By FamilyFirstNJA

9/12/2024

The Role of Parents

Parents’ contributions are of crucial importance in fostering your children’s learning abilities and ability to make good judgment.  Parents, as the first educators of their children play a vital role in their learning process.  Moreover, parents’ involvement can foster a positive attitude towards learning. 

Children who perceive their parents as interested and invested in their education are more likely to develop a similar enthusiasm for acquiring knowledge.  This attitude often translates into increased academic motivation, higher self-esteem, and improved school performance.

A child’s development is multifaceted, encompassing physical, emotional, and cognitive growth.  Parents as the primary caregivers and educators, have a profound influence on all these aspects. 

Parents provide the nurturing environment necessary for a child’s healthy physical growth.  They are instrumental in the development of the child’s emotional intelligence by guiding their responses to various situations, teaching them to express feelings appropriately, and helping them build resilience.

The journey towards understanding this complex dynamic begins with acknowledging the critical role parents play in the lives of their children.

Parents are the first teachers in terms of cognitive development of the child.  Parents introduce their children to the world of learning, paving the way for the acquisition of knowledge and skills. 

The early years are crucial for developing a child’s learning abilities, and parents can stimulate the child cognitive development by engaging them in educational activities, reading to them and encouraging curiosity.

In terms of social competence, a parent model and teach the social behaviors that children need to interact effectively with others.  Through parents’ guidance and examples, children learn how to communicate, cooperate, show empathy and negotiate conflicts.  Parents also provide children with opportunities to practice these skills in various social settings. 

The NIH highlights social competence in children requires parents teaching skills that aid in their development and preparedness for dealing with others, “Parents’ ability to foster a sense of belonging and self-worth in their children is vital to the children’s early development. In much the same way, parents contribute to children’s emerging social competence by teaching them skills—such as self-control, cooperation, and taking the perspective of others—that prepare them to develop and maintain positive relationships with peers and adults”.

Parents are indispensable in cultivating competence in children.  Parents influence spans across the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of their children’s development.  By providing a supportive environment, guiding their children’s emotional responses, stimulating their cognitive development, and modeling social behaviors, parents significantly contribute to their children’s journey towards becoming competent individuals.

Parents’ Active Involvement in Children’s Education

Research suggests that parents’ active involvement in their children’s education can significantly enhance their learning outcomes.  This involvement spans a myriad of activities, from helping with homework and reading bedtime stories, to attending parent-teacher meetings and aiding in school projects.

The primary advantage of parental involvement lies in parents’ ability to personalize the child’s education.  Parents being intimately acquainted with their children’s strengths, weaknesses, and interest, and learning styles, are uniquely positioned to deliver tailored learning experiences.  Parents can adapt teaching methods, adjust pace, and select appropriate learning material that align with their child’s specific needs and capabilities. 

Furthermore, parental participation can facilitate the development of essential learning skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-discipline.  By actively engaging in your child’s education, you can model these skills and provide practical opportunities for their application.  These hands-on approaches can significantly enhance the child’s cognitive development and learning capacity.

However, it is important to note that the degree and manner of parental involvement should be appropriate to the child’s developmental stage.  Over-involvement or ‘helicopter parenting’ can lead to detrimental effects such as anxiety, dependency, and diminished self-efficacy.  Hence parents should strive to strike a balance between providing support and fostering independence.

Cultivating competence in children requires a collaborative effect between school, the child and importantly, the parents.

Parents Modeling Behavior

One of the primary ways parents influence their children’s social skills is through modeling.  According to Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, children learn by observing and emulating the behavior of others, primarily their parents. 

For instance, parents who regularly exhibit polite manners, empathy and good listening skills indirectly teach their children to behave similarly.  On the contrary, parents who display aggression, impatience, or intolerance may inadvertently foster these negative attributes in their children.

The quality of parent-child interactions also significantly impacts children’s social skills.  Parents who engage their children in open and respectful communication foster a safe environment for their children to express their feelings and thoughts.  This not only promotes emotional awareness, but also enhances their ability to understand others’ perspectives, a critical aspect of effective social interactions.  Conversely a lack of positive communication or frequent negative interactions can impede children’s social development, leading to difficulties in forming healthy relationships later in life.

Serve as a social mediator for your children.  Introduce your children to various social situations and guide them on how to interact appropriately.  For instance, during playdates, parents might teach their children to share toys, take turns, and resolve conflicts amicably.  These early experiences are crucial in shaping children’s social skills, teaching them to navigate different social contexts, and understand social norms and expectations.

Parental support and encouragement are other significant factors in children’s social skills development.  When you actively encourage your children to participate in social activities and provide constructive feedback, they are likely to develop confidence in their social abilities.  This will boost your children competence, making it easier for them to form and maintain interpersonal relationships. 

Through parents’ modeling, communication, mediation, and support they shape their children’s abilities to interact effectively and empathetically with others.

Parenting styles have a significant impact on children’s competency, shaping both their social skills and learning abilities.  The approach parents adopt in nurturing and instructing their children can foster or hinder the development of vital competencies.

Three Parental Approaches

According to Baumrind’s research on parenting styles, there are three main approaches: authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive.  Each style has unique characteristics and can differently impact children’s development trajectory.

Authoritative parenting is characterized by high levels of both responsiveness and demandingness.  Authoritative parents are attuned to their child’s emotional needs, while also setting high standards for behavior.  This parenting style encourages independence but within clear boundaries.  Research suggests that children raised by authoritative parents tend to have high competency levels.  They exhibit strong social skills, perform well academically, and are less likely to engage in risky behavior.

Authoritarian parenting is characterized by high demandingness but low responsiveness, tends to result in lower levels of competence.  Children raised in this style may learn to obey rules, but often struggle with self-esteem and social competence.  The strict discipline and lack of emotional warmth can hinder children’s emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills development.

Permissive parenting style is characterized by high responsiveness, but low demandingness, often leads to children who struggle with self-regulation.  The lack of boundaries and discipline may result in difficulties in academic and social contexts.  Despite these children being more likely to express their feelings, they may lack the necessary skills to manage these emotions effectively.

Moreover, the impact of parenting styles on children’s competence is not isolated but interacts with children’s temperament and the socio-cultural context.  For instance, some cultures may value obedience and conformity over independence, making it an authoritarian style.

And understanding of these styles and their impact can help parents foster the necessary skills and abilities in their children.  Ultimately, a balanced approach that includes warmth, clear boundaries, and respect for the child’s individuality seems to promote the highest levels of competence.

Baumrind later added a 4^th category to her parenting styles:

Neglectful parenting style is defined according to Jessup University as:

The types of parents who are neglectful, as the category would imply, do not interact much with their children at all. The children are given no rules, structure, or affection and are left largely to fend for themselves. This parenting style, especially when taken to the extreme, can put children in danger and lead to them being removed from the home. This style can also be called “uninvolved parenting.”

Neglectful parents don’t converse or interact with their children much, don’t attend their children’s activities or events and don’t strive for any kind of emotional connection. Even if not physically damaging, the psychological aftermath of this parenting style is serious and can lead to children:

• Becoming depressed
• Struggling to form close relationships
• Having failed relationships
• Lashing out through delinquent or hostile behavior
• Cutting themselves off from others

Conclusion

The role of parents in children’s development is an intricate tapestry of influence, guidance, and instruction, woven through the everyday experiences of life.  Parents’ involvement in their children’s lives greatly influences their development, shaping their future and molding their abilities.

Parental involvement in children’s learning process, whether it be assisting with homework or encouraging curiosity about the world is important.  It fosters an environment that values education, bolsters academic performance, and instills a lifelong love of learning.  Simultaneously, parents also pay a crucial role in helping children develop social skills.  Through their interactions, children learn empath, communication, and how to navigate social situations, all of which are vital for their success in later life. 

Parenting styles too have a profound impact on children’s competence. Each style carries unique implications for children’s development, influencing their self-esteem, academic achievement, and overall well-being.  It is up to each parent to find the style that best fits their values, their child’s temperament and the unique dynamics of the family.

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Works Cited

Bandora’s Social Learning Theory and its Uses in the Classroom.  PHILO-notes.  Youtube.

19 Feb 2022. Video: 10:43 mins.  https://youtu.be/tGiVkzqwNdA

Parenting Matters: Supporting Parents of Children Ages 0-18.  “Practices to Promote Emotional and Behavioral Competence and Social Competence”. NIH: The National Library of Medicine.                                                                               

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402020/#:~:text=In%20much%0the%20s        ame%20way,relationships%20with%20peers%20and%20adults.

The Psychology Behind Different Types of Parenting.  Jessup University.                                                     https://jessup.edu/blog/academic-success/the-psychology-behind-different-types-of-      parentingstyles/#:~:text=Parenting%20styles%20vary%20from%20person,%3A%20auth      oritarian%2C%20authoritative%20and%20permissive.