Parenting Styles

Question 1  

Parenting style 1 – Concerted Cultivation Child-Rearing Approach

The Middle class families, according to Annette Lareau, in her research ‘unequal childhoods’, employ the concerted cultivation parenting style. This implies that these parents have the opportunity of channeling their resources towards their children. In this context, the parents invest a lot of financial and time resources concentrate and even expand their skills, as well as, talents with minimal interference on how these children are willing to undertake their responsibilities (Lareau, 2003, p.2). The middle class families often have the opportunity to have more time with their children. In addition, they tend to spend more of their money resources on their children. Hence, they easily facilitate more reading time for their children, manage the after-school engagements and activities and even sports. Through this, they get the opportunity to have an impact on the children’s skills and knowledge. A perfect example is that of William’s family where Alexander is raised. The author states that the children are raised in an environment where there are “Organized activities, established and controlled by mothers and fathers, dominate the lives of middle-class children such as Garrett and Alexander” (Lareau, 2003, p.2).

Pros

First, children get the opportunity to identify with their talents, interests and abilities early enough. Secondly, there is an excellent parent-child relationship between them and their guardians. In addition, they exhibit confidence and ability to make decisions without having to seek consent from the available authority points. Further, their skills and knowledge levels tend to be competitively above those of other children who are raised in an authoritative/ authoritarian environment.

Cons

The children may also not exhibit optimal self-drive since they have always had parents being the source of their growth. Excess overscheduling, and affluence by parents is likely to have a negative impact on the converted cultivation expected benefits.

Parenting style 2 – Natural Growth Child-Rearing Approach

The working families, and the poor families on the other side, exercise the natural growth style of parenting. According to the article, the children experience “long stretches of leisure time, child initiative play, clear boundaries between adults and children and daily interactions with kin” (Lareau, 2003, p.3). One key character trait of the working families is that they often have little time to spend with the children (Lareau, 2003, p.3). In addition, their disposable income that could be used to invest in the children are significantly little. In this case, the extend family is highly involved in the process of raising the children. Hence, these children have little time with their parents in the process of establishing their talents, abilities and interests. Therefore, these children acquire unique skills that are not available to those raised through concerted cultivation method. The article states provide an example of Tyrec, a child who is raised in a poor family stating that “… Tyrec learned important life skills not available to Garrett. He and his friends found numerous ways of entertaining themselves, showing creativity and independence” (Lareau, 2003, p.81). In fact, parents give commands and children follow them without having their opinions heard.

Pros

The children who are raised through this model tend to have a clear understanding of what they learned on the right and wrong things to do. Hence, they are believed to be well mannered. Secondly, these children also have a tendency of avoiding harmful situations and often appreciate operating in environments that have hard and fast ground rules, even as they age up.

Cons

The children have little self-drive if any is exhibited. In addition, as the children grow up, they tend to have significant confusion regarding what could be expected of them. Further, they are poor in terms of making independent decisions.

Question 2

Katie’s parents used the natural growth approach of parenting. Therefore, the children are likely to be affected by the manner through which their children are being parented. For instance, Tyrec and his friends engage in plays that they have devised by themselves which are complete with specific rules, as well as, systems of enforcement (Lareau, 2003). Brindle, Katie’s mother fall under the unemployed. Therefore, she has minimal resources on her implying that she highly depends on the help of the government assistance and child support to provide for her children. In addition, Brindle is the principal caregiver for her children. However, though she is not employed, she gets the opportunity to spend time with her children. However, she does not invest too much on her children with things like checking her children’s homework or helping them to build a doll house (Lareau, 2003). However, Brindle’s children need her for their always. She undergoes through intense stress in her experience as a parent.

The same case applies to Tyrec. Tyrec’s mother, Tylor has to work very hard to only acquire $20,000 annually for the last one eight years (Lareau, 2003, p.202). however, the author clarifies that “…but the annual salary for her position (approximately $20,000) is

hard to stretch far enough to cover all the family’s need” (Lareau, 2003, p.202). It is important to note that in spite of the fact that such parents do not get an opportunity to see their children play means that they do not like to see them have fun. She is expected to live a life of careful spending. For instance, her husband, Mr. Taylor takes his family to a Burger King that is situated close to his apartment (Lareau, 2003). However, his wife, Ms. Taylor argues out that she would rather eat in Millville, a shopping center that could have been reasonably affordable. According to her, she has learned to live her own means. For her to keep her children at bay, she ensures that they follow a set of rules especially based on respect to elders, whether they are considered to be kin or not (Lareau, 2003).

The case is different for Garrett; he is raised in such a manner that he cannot develop any sport without receiving specific instructions. They are rarely innovative nor responsive to circumstances (Lareau, 2003). These children have grown in such a manner that they have come to understand how best to develop their skills, demonstrate personal responsibility and employment of strategy. Hence, the parents are likely to be affected in terms of having to invest their time in guiding and promoting the process of identifying skills and responsibilities. On the other side, the children are likely to grow as responsible persons who have the ability to be innovative and make decisions without much interference or lack of confidence in the process.

Reference

Lareau, A. (2003). Unequal childhoods: Class, race, and family life. Univ of California Pr