What's your style?

While you may have your own distinct approach towards bringing up your baby, studies have identified four major categories that parents fall into. Which one is yours?

What’s your style?

Parenting is largely subjective. As a parent, your approach to your child is as unique as you are, for you bring with you your experiences as a child, your personality characteristics and a little bit of what you’ve read or heard or seen of others’ opinion on parenting. You’ll be surprised to learn though that despite all these distinguishing parameters, several years of research and studies have identified a few distinctive approaches to bringing up your kids. There may be no straight right or wrong to this, and most parents will not conveniently fall into one particular category. Read on to know which one you are leaning towards. Continue, adapt or alter.

AUTHORITARIAN

As the name suggests, those who have this approach towards parenting demand unquestioned obedience from their children. Rules are critical to the authoritarian parent and she expects that children will follow them without exception. You fall in this category if you are the decisive factor in every aspect of your child’s life. There is no space for arguing another point of view, and your children must follow all of the rules all the time.

HOW

Danny (3): Can I wear my red Superman t-shirt when I go down to play with Armaan today?

Mum: Absolutely not. It’s Tuesday of January, and you are to wear blue hooded jersey today, honey. Danny: But I want to. Mum: You don’t get to pick your clothes Dan. Mummy decides what’s best for you. You will wear your blue jersey today. Danny: I do want to wear the Superman t-shirt, mummy. Please... Mum: I said, NO. Danny: I want Superman! I want Superman! Mum: You either wear your blue jersey or you don’t go down to play at all.

THUMBS UP