By: Hanif Khaki
The following article offers some insight to those involved in the wonderful world known as Parenting.

There are just as many parenting styles as there are a number of parents. Experts believe the parenting styles fall into 4 different and identifiable styles: authoritarian, indulgent, authoritative, and uninvolved.

Let's examine this more closely. The first parenting style is that of the authoritarian parent. These parents are like army commanders. They prefer to issue commands and orders to their children and fully expect their children to carry out their orders without questioning them. Authoritarians do not welcome nor appreciate any feedback from their children. They live by set and defined rules in a structured environment.. These children as we now know, are generally considered to have an unhappy nature about them. Boys generally exhibit hostile behaviour when dealing with frustration, whereas girls tend to give up easily when faced with difficult situations. Both the boys and girls however, tend to perform better in school due to their disciplined upbringing.

The second parenting style is the indulgent parent. These parents are generally lenient. They allow a variety of behaviours by their children that some would describe as immature. Essentially, they let the children look after themselves and avoid confronting them at all costs. Indulgent parents may also be described as non-directive or democratic. Non-directive parents are known to parent by default, that is, by taking virtually no action in parenting of their children. Democratic parents, though lenient, are more aware and show a commitment to engage with their children.

The third parenting style is that of the authoritative parent. These parents are both demanding and responsive at the same time. Authoritative parents while expecting their their children to behave in a certain manner, don't impose their authority and welcome a certain amount of questioning. They demonstrate a combination of assertiveness coupled with the ability to respond to their children's feedback. These children appear to be more lively and have a happier disposition about them. Their self-confidence is more developed they seem to be more sure of their abilities. These children also show better emotional control and are more adept in their social skills. Gender stereotypes are also less of an issue with authoritative parents, as they tend to be more open minded in their outlook towards their children's behaviour, i.e. boys playing with dolls and girls playing with tools.

Lastly, we look at the  parenting style known as "uninvolved parenting". As the name suggests, these parents are simply uninvolved. They are neither demanding nor responsive of their children and they are not interested in any feedback from them. These parents are the most likely to be irresponsible and more often neglect their children.

We hope you found the above information insightful and will seek out the many more resources available on this topic online.

Author: Melissa M.

Homework time can often be a struggle.  Many parents don’t realize that good homework habits must be taught to young children.  Here are 7 easy parenting tips you can use at home to help your child be more successful and focused when doing homework.

1.  Keep a schedule and stick to it.  Make sure your child does homework at the same time each day.  A family schedule posted in a prominent place in the house will keep everyone accountable.
2.  Designate a “homework spot” in the house.  Make sure there is lots of light and that it is quiet.  Keep supplied nearby (see Tip #4).
3.   Remove distractions to promote good work habits.  Quiet background music can help some children focus, but the television should be turned off.  Your child should not use the phone during homework time, unless he/she needs to clarify an assignment.  Consider having your child do homework at the library if there are too many distractions at home.
4.   Create a well-stocked “office” for your child.  Just as you cannot work at your office without certain essentials, your child needs supplies as well.  Keeping them in one place will encourage your child to stay on task and will cut down on excuses such as “I need a ruler” or “My pencil broke.”  Your homework center should include: pencils, pens, erasers, pencil sharpener, writing paper, glue, stapler, tape, scissors, ruler, index cards, calculator, post-it notes, a dictionary, and a thesaurus.  
5.   Set a good example.  Let your child see you reading and writing, and discuss what you read with your child.  Encourage activities that support learning.  Educational games, library visits, walks in the neighborhood, trips to the zoo or to museums can instill a love of learning in your child.
6.   Show an interest in your child’s education.  Visit the library, read to your child, discuss what your child is learning in school, attend school activities, and get to know your child’s friends and their parents.  Monitor your child’s television shows and encourage your child to tune in to history, science, or literature-based shows that are appropriate for your child’s age.  If you are excited about it, your child will be too.
7.   Monitor your child’s homework assignments.  Don’t be afraid to ask teachers about their expectations or to clarify assignments.  When your child is doing homework, make sure you are available in case he/she has questions.  Check each night to see that assignments are completed—don’t take your child’s word for it!

By following these simple parenting tips, you are communicating to your child that you take homework and education seriously, and that you want to see your child succeed.  When your child sees that you are taking an active role in the homework process, he/she will be more focused and motivated, and homework time will be easier on both of you.