Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents affect child development.

Researchers have posited that there are links between parenting styles and the effects these styles
have on children. Your parenting style can affect everything from how much your child weighs to
how he feels about himself. It's important to ensure your parenting style is supporting healthy
growth and development because the way you interact with your child and how you discipline him
or her will influence them for the rest of their life.
Your parenting style is determined by how much control you assert on your children, and how
supportive you are to their needs. There are four types of parenting styles that differ in the degree
of parental demands and responsiveness:
The authoritarian parent is characterized by high levels of control and demands of the child but
coupled with low levels of nurturing and emotional connection.
The Authoritative Parent is represented by high levels of control and demands, yet providing
nurture and open communication.
The Permissive Parent is characterized by high levels of nurturing and warmth, but with low levels
of control and demands.
The Uninvolved Parent / The permissive-neglectful parenting style is identified by low control and
low responsiveness. Parents fulfil the child’s basic needs but are emotionally and physically
withdrawn from their child’s life.
There are also stimulating and supportive parental styles. Stimulating parents are actively involved
in what the children do, steering them towards certain fields and pushing them hard, often acting
like a tutor. Supportive parents create a harmonious home governed by clear rules. They actively
help their children to follow their pet interests and praise their results whatever standard is achieved.
Different parents have different views of what they want to 'implant' in the mind of their offspring.
But I believe that the best way to raise your child and provide them with harmonious development
is to combine the supportive and stimulating styles.
It is in the family that values, norms and ideas are communicated from generation to generation. If
parents want their children to be happy and to develop successfully, it is essential to maintain
harmony and the atmosphere of love, mutual respect, acceptance, understanding and open
communication in their family.
We live in a competitive society that is focused on individual achievement. Parents are increasingly
focused on their children’s achievements as an extension of their own achievements.
Many parents during the preschool years are concerned about their children’s progress at
preschool and worry about how well their child is learning their letters and numbers.
“Hot housing” is a term that has been used to describe an environment where parents put undue
pressure on their children to achieve. Hothousing is a form of education for children, involving the
intense study of a topic to stimulate the child's mind. The goal is to take "normal" or bright children
and boost them to a level of intellectual functioning above the norm.
Advocates of the practice claim that it is essential for the brightest to flourish intellectually, while
critics claim that it does more harm than good and can lead a child to abandon the area studied
under such a scheme later in life. Such parents choose preschools or nurseries that push literacy and
numeracy at a young age rather than play. These parents may view play as unimportant and may
enrol their children in many structured activities where they feel their child is learning something
useful. Children may be taken to gymnastics, karate or piano lessons even when they are reluctant
to go.
Hot housing has a lot of advantages. For ex., children can get a lot of information, learn earlier,
develop speaking, thinking and other abilities early; get used to the educational system; they are
taught where and to find information; it helps define their inclinations, strong and weak points.
But despite all these advantages I don’t want to bring my child in this way. I believe that it can lead
to child’s health problems, they won’t be motivated because they will be forced to do these or those
things, this also leads to a lack of creativity, lack of socializing. I also believe that it may ruin our
relationship. As for me, I’m sure that the best way to raise a healthy and thinking child is to help
them enjoy the process of education. Introduce new activities, new material through play, give them
the chance to try various things, use something new every time to educate them. Thus they will be
able to choose what they like, they will be motivated to learn and to enhance their abilities. They
will be able to have a childhood.
Some parents want to make their children gifted, First of all, we should define the word
“gifted”. A gifted child is a child with a combination of abilities in psychology, which
enables him or her to successfully carry out certain activities. It takes nature and nurture to
grow a gifted child. Social and cultural influences can provide that nourishment, creating
clusters of genius at moments and places in history.
Natural gifts and a nurturing environment can still fall short of producing a genius, without
motivation and tenacity propelling one forward. A combination of passion and perseverance
drives people to achieve. No matter how brilliant a person is, fortitude and discipline are
critical to success.
I don’t believe that you can make your child gifted. You can help them develop these or that
abilities by introducing new types of activities, giving them a chance to try many things, by
supporting them. You shouldn’t foster your child’s intelligence, you must help them enjoy
the process of education, make up various ways to help your child learn through play. Only
this way they will be motivated to learn something new or to enhance their abilities.

What is stronger, “nature” or “nurture”?.

The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest philosophical issues within psychology.
Nature refers to all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are—from our
physical appearance to our personality characteristics.
Nurture refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we are, including our early
childhood experiences, how we were raised, our social relationships, and our surrounding culture.
Even today, different branches of psychology often take a one versus the other approach. For
example, biological psychology tends to stress the importance of genetics and biological influences.
Behaviorism, on the other hand, focuses on the impact that the environment has on behavior.
Today, most experts recognize that both factors play a critical role. Not only that, but they also
realize that nature and nurture interact in important ways throughout life.
Some philosophers such as Plato and Descartes suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they
occur naturally regardless of environmental influences
Other well-known thinkers such as John Locke believed in what is known as a tabula rasa, which
suggests that the mind begins as a blank slate. According to this notion, everything that we are and
all of our knowledge is determined by our experience.
For example, when a person achieves tremendous academic success, did they do so because they are
genetically predisposed to be successful or is it a result of an enriched environment?
A few examples of biologically determined characteristics (nature) include certain genetic diseases,
eye colour, hair colour, and skin colour. Other things like life expectancy and height have a strong
biological component, but they are also influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle.
Some characteristics are tied to environmental influences. How a person behaves can be linked to
influences such as parenting styles and learned experiences.
One example of an empiricist theory within psychology is Albert Bandura's social learning theory.
According to the theory, people learn by observing the behaviour of others. In his famous Bobo doll
experiment, Bandura demonstrated that children could learn aggressive behaviours simply by
observing another person acting aggressively.
What researchers do know is that the interaction between heredity and environment is often the
most important factor of all.
Today, the majority of experts believe that both nature and nurture influence behaviour and
development.
Are geniuses born or made?
Over the past several decades, scientists have been searching for genes that contribute to
intelligence, behavior, and even unique qualities like perfect pitch. In the case of intelligence, this
research triggers ethical concerns about how it might be used; it is also exceedingly complex, as
thousands of genes may be involved — each one with a very small effect.
Genetic potential alone does not predict actual accomplishment. It also takes nurture to grow a
genius. Social and cultural influences can provide that nourishment, creating clusters of genius at
moments and places in history.
Natural gifts and a nurturing environment can still fall short of producing a genius, without
motivation and tenacity propelling one forward. A combination of passion and perseverance drives
people to achieve. No matter how brilliant a person is, fortitude and discipline are critical to
success.

Can “hothousing” produce “better people”? Would you bring up your child in this way?
We live in a competitive society that is focused on individual achievement. Parents are
increasingly focused on their children’s achievements as an extension of their own achievements.
The problem of competitive parenting starts at preschool age. Many parents during the
preschool years are concerned about their children’s progress at preschool and worry about how
well their child is learning their letters and numbers. Some people refer to this as the
‘schoolification of young children’ and point out that young children need to learn through play.
“Hot housing” is a term that has been used to describe an environment where parents put undue
pressure on their children to achieve. Hothousing is a form of education for children, involving the
intense study of a topic to stimulate the child's mind. The goal is to take "normal" or bright children
and boost them to a level of intellectual functioning above the norm.
Advocates of the practice claim that it is essential for the brightest to flourish intellectually, while
critics claim that it does more harm than good and can lead a child to abandon the area studied
under such a scheme later in life. Such parents choose preschools or nurseries that push literacy and
numeracy at a young age rather than play. These parents may view play as unimportant and may
enrol their children in many structured activities where they feel their child is learning something
useful. Children may be taken to gymnastics, karate or piano lessons even when they are reluctant
to go.
Studies suggest that children whose parents are very focused on early achievement are less creative
and more anxious. There also appears to be no long-term academic benefits. Parents who are keen
on hothousing their children also tend to be more critical of their children and controlling.
One study found that children who went to highly academic preschools and nurseries, were more
worried about school, felt less pride in their accomplishments and were less motivated than children
who were taught in child-centred environments. Hothousing continues through primary school
when parents enrol their children in a stream of extra-curricular activities and push their children to
do well at school.
Parents must remember that no child can be good at everything and it can make children anxious if
parents strive for perfection. The most important thing is for parents to develop their children’s
emotional intelligence and encourage naturally developing interests. Teaching children to empathise
with other people’s emotions and to not always be competitive develops emotional intelligence and
is much more likely to lead to success in life than pure grades.
Hot housing has a lot of advantages. For ex., children can get a lot of information, learn
earlier, develop speaking, thinking and other abilities early; get used to the educational
system; they are taught where and to find information; it helps define their inclinations,
strong and weak points.
But despite all these advantages I don’t want to bring my child in this way. I believe that it
can lead to child’s health problems, they won’t be motivated because they will be forced to do
these or those things, this also leads to a lack of creativity, lack of socializing. I also believe
that it may ruin our relationship. As for me, I’m sure that the best way to raise a healthy and
thinking child is to help them enjoy the process of education. Introduce new activities, new
material through play, give them the chance to try various things, use something new every
time to educate them. Thus they will be able to choose what they like, they will be motivated to
learn and to enhance their abilities. They will be able to have a childhood.

Should parents have high expectations of their children? How to make your child gifted?
We live in a competitive society that is focused on individual achievement. It’s hard not to expect
a lot from your child, as you want them to be the best. Parents are increasingly focused on their
children’s achievements as an extension of their own achievements and they are anxious that their
children are not left behind in the climb to the top of the school hierarchy.
Many parents during the preschool years are concerned about their children’s progress at
preschool and worry about how well their child is learning their letters and numbers. Such parents
choose preschools or nurseries that push literacy and numeracy at a young age rather than play.
Children may be taken to gymnastics, karate or piano lessons even when they are reluctant to go.
Studies suggest that children whose parents are very focused on early achievement are less
creative and more anxious. There also appears to be no long-term academic benefits. Parents who
are keen on hothousing their children also tend to be more critical of their children and controlling.
Parents need to be careful that they don’t force their children into achievement orientated
environments at a young age. One study found that children who went to highly academic
preschools and nurseries, were more worried about school, felt less pride in their accomplishments
and were less motivated than children who were taught in child-centred environments. Parents
enrol their children in a stream of extra-curricular activities and push their children to do well at
school. Some parents will spend hours doing their children’s homework projects for them so that
their child gets the best grades. Weekends are spent at ballet classes and football or rugby
practice to ensure their child is the best in every way.
However, it is difficult not to get sucked into our competitive culture. When other parents are
paying for lots of sporting or music activities for their child, you begin to think that maybe your child
should attend these activities too so that they can be as good as the other children. When other
parents say that their child is performing better than your child in English or Mathematics, you
begin to think you should force your child to spend more time on homework. On the other hand, no
child can be good at everything and it can make children anxious if parents strive for perfection.
Anxiety is not the main problem. Children whose parents always expect a lot from them are more
inclined to get depressed. Stress, strain and anxiety can lead to health problems. And even as
adults, they won’t be able to be self-confident or satisfied with the things they do because they will
always feel that they should do better.
The most important thing is for parents to develop their children’s emotional intelligence and
encourage naturally developing interests. Parents can start by emphasizing that perfection is not
important and that although it is good to try our best that we don’t have to be the best. Teaching
children to empathise with other people’s emotions and to not always be competitive develops
emotional intelligence and is much more likely to lead to success in life than pure grades.
Some parents want to make their children gifted, First of all, we should define the word
“gifted”. A gifted child is a child with a combination of abilities in psychology, which
enables him or her to successfully carry out certain activities. I don’t believe that you can
make your child gifted. You can help them develop these or that abilities by introducing new
types of activities, giving them a chance to try many things, by supporting them. You
shouldn’t foster your child’s intelligence, you must help them enjoy the process of
education, make up various ways to help your child learn through play. Only this way they
will be motivated to learn something new or to enhance their abilities.

What factors determine your child’s harmonious development?

 Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents affect child development.
Researchers have posited that there are links between parenting styles and the effects these
styles have on children. Your parenting style can affect everything from how much your child
weighs to how he feels about himself. It's important to ensure your parenting style is supporting
healthy growth and development because the way you interact with your child and how you
discipline him or her will influence them for the rest of their life.
Your parenting style is determined by how much control you assert on your children, and how
supportive you are to their needs. There are four types of parenting styles that differ in the degree
of parental demands and responsiveness:
The authoritarian parent is characterized by high levels of control and demands of the child but
coupled with low levels of nurturing and emotional connection. Authoritarian parents engage in low
levels of communication with their children, rarely explaining why compliance is necessary.
The Authoritative Parent is represented by high levels of control and demands, yet providing
nurture and open communication. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing
to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents are more
nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing.
The Permissive Parent is characterized by high levels of nurturing and warmth, but with low levels
of control and demands. This parenting style involves high levels of acceptance, with parents rarely
exerting control over their children’s behaviour and not closely monitoring their activities.
Permissive parents are sometimes described as highly flexible and lax. Permissive parents fear
losing their children's love if they set limits.
The Uninvolved Parent / The permissive-neglectful parenting style is identified by low control and
low responsiveness. Parents fulfil the child’s basic needs but are emotionally and physically
withdrawn from their child’s life.
There are also stimulating and supportive parental styles. Stimulating parents are actively involved
in what the children do, steering them towards certain fields and pushing them hard, often acting
like a tutor. Although they work hard for long hours, these children's level of alertness and
happiness is far below that of children in more balanced family environments and are frequently
the victims of burn-out. Supportive parents, on the other hand, create a harmonious home
governed by clear rules. They actively help their children to follow their pet interests and praise
their results whatever standard is achieved.
Different parents have different views of what they want to 'implant' in the mind of their offspring.
But I believe that the best way to raise your child and provide them with harmonious development
is to combine the supportive and stimulating styles.
Parents also should use the right discipline methods. You must always keep in mind that corporal
punishment whether it is spanking or slapping, or something harsher, is not the solution. It only
serves to show how weak you are if this is the only way you can influence your child. Among the
methods there are restrictions (socializing, entertainment), setting limits, redirecting bad
behaviour, hearing them out and of course, talking to them. There different communication
strategies: negotiation, discussions, explanation, etc. But you must also be careful with your words.
Do not ever abuse your child verbally. Words can hurt: yelling at children and using words to cause
emotional pain or shame are ineffective and harmful. It can lead to more misbehaviour and mental
health problems in children.
As we can see, parental style is not the only thing that determines your child’s behaviour, but it
also healthy discipline strategies
It is in the family that values, norms and ideas are communicated from generation to generation. If
parents want their children to be happy and to develop successfully, it is essential to maintain
harmony and the atmosphere of love, mutual respect, acceptance, understanding and open
communication in their family.
 What parenting styles do you know? What are the best?
Your parenting style is determined by how much control you assert on your children,
and how supportive you are to their needs. Exploring different parenting styles can help
parents discover improved discipline methods, communication strategies, and relationship
building techniques toward optimizing their parenting effectiveness of raising healthy and
happy children.
Your parenting style can affect everything from how much your child weighs to how
he feels about himself. It's important to ensure your parenting style is supporting healthy
growth and development because the way you interact with your child and how you
discipline him or her will influence you for the rest of the life. There are four types of
parenting styles that differ in the degree of parental demands and responsiveness.
The Authoritarian Parent – “You’ll do as I say” High Control, Low Support. The
authoritarian parent sets many rules and closely monitors but offers little support. The
authoritarian parenting style is also characterized by high levels of control and demands of
the child but coupled with low levels of nurturing and emotional connection. Authoritarian
parents engage in low levels of communication with their children, rarely explaining why
compliance is necessary. These parents often use severe disciplinary tactics whenever
children deviate from their standards.
The Authoritative Parent – “I love you whatever you decide, but I encourage you to
do as I say” High Control, High Support. The authoritative parent is highly supportive and
closely monitors and sets rules. The authoritative parenting style is represented by high
levels of control and demands, yet providing nurture and open communication. Discipline
usually involves the use of reason and power, but not to the extent that the child’s
independence is severely restricted. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children
and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents
are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing.
The Permissive Parent – “I trust you’ll do the right thing” Low Control, High
Support. The permissive parent is highly supportive but makes few rules and trusts rather
than monitors. The permissive-indulgent parenting style is characterized by high levels of
nurturing and warmth, but with low levels of control and demands. This parenting style
involves high levels of acceptance, with parents rarely exerting control over their children’s
behaviour and not closely monitoring their activities. Permissive parents are sometimes
described as highly flexible and lax.
The Uninvolved Parent – “You’ll do what you want, and learn from your mistakes.”
Low Control, Low Support. The uninvolved parent sets few rules, does not monitor, and
offers little active support. The permissive-neglectful parenting style is identified by low
control and low responsiveness. Parents fulfil the child’s basic needs but are emotionally
and physically withdrawn from their child’s life. In extreme cases, these parents may even
reject or neglect the needs of their children.
So now, researches speak about a new view on parenting style. They identify two
kinds of parental style - the supportive and the stimulating. Stimulating parents are actively
involved in what the children do, steering them towards certain fields and pushing them
hard, often acting like a tutor. Although they work hard for long hours, these children's level
of alertness and happiness is far below that of children in more balanced family
environments and are frequently the victims of burn-out. Supportive parents, on the other
hand, create a harmonious home governed by clear rules. They actively help their children
to follow their pet interests and praise their results whatever standard is achieved.
 Different parents have different views of what they want to 'implant' in the mind of
their offspring. But I believe that the best way to raise your child and provide them with
harmonious development is to combine the supportive and stimulating styles.