What is the best way to raise a child

If you're a parent, you get plenty of suggestions on how to raise your child. From experts to other parents, people are always ready to offer advice. Parenting tips, parents' survival guides, dos, don'ts, should and shouldn’t, nevertheless despite this wealth of knowledge available to parents some still find raising a child very difficult.

However, Misi Molu in a discussion with mothers listed out four types of Parenting styles, how early parents should raise their children and so many other issues.

The four types of parenting styles listed are: The Authoritarian Parenting style, The Authoritative, The Permissive and the uninvolved parenting style.

The Authoritarian Parenting Style is an extremely strict form of parenting that expects a child to adhere to rules and regulations set out by the parents with little or no input or communication from the child. This type of parenting style is a harsh, rigid emotional climate that is low in parental responsiveness (the nurturing aspect of the child) and high in parental demandingness (control over the child).

Open communication is generally not an option in this type of parenting style. Authoritarian parents feel they are the boss and their children should conform to their demands without question.

The Permissive Parenting Style is an extremely relaxed approach where parents are generally warm, nurturing and affectionate. However, they are overly accepting of their children's behavior, good or bad. The Permissive Parenting Style is "Too Soft". It is characterized by high responsiveness (the nurturing aspect of the child) and low demandingness (control over the child).

The parent is overly responsive to the child's demands, seldom enforcing consistent rules and often leads to rearing a spoiled child.

The Authoritative Parenting Style is one that communicates in a warm, accepting, nurturing manner. Parents maintain firm expectations and restrictions on their children's behavior while holding them accountable for their own actions.

With love, understanding and respect for their children, they provide the important structure needed in the family environment

The Uninvolved Parenting style (often referred to as neglectful parenting) as the name implies, the parent is totally disengaged and emotionally uninvolved in their child's life. There is little if any expression of love and affection.

The uninvolved parenting style is low in parental responsiveness (the nurturing aspect of the child) and low in parental demandingness (control over the child).

Often these parents provide only the basic needs of food and shelter. Routinely these parents are too busy or self-involved to support their child in school functions, teach life skills and encourage socially acceptable behavior. The child is generally expected to fend for themselves.

Aside from these styles, parents are advised to raise and instill discipline in their children as early as possible. Also, parents should observe and see what a child takes interest in as he grows up.

The truth is there is more than one "right" way to be a good parent. Good parenting includes:

Keeping your child safe

Showing affection and listening to your child

Providing order and consistency

Setting and enforcing limits

Spending time with your child

Monitoring your child's friendships and activities

Leading by example

Now, that you have a general understanding of the different parenting styles, you will find it easier to recognize your own parenting techniques and what can be done to achieve different results.