Parenting Styles Worksheet

Directions: For this assignment, you will complete the table about parenting styles by filling in the reactions of each parenting style to the behavior, by explaining the child’s perception, and by explaining possible outcomes. See the example below to assist you.

Example:

Age: 5 years old

Behavior: Call from teacher stating the 5-year-old has been aggressive toward another student at school.
Authoritarian Parent: Verbally scolds child who “knows better” and spanks the child, who is not given dessert after dinner.

Child’s perceptions: The child feels she is bad and that her parents are scary.

Possible outcomes: The child will lack problem-solving skills, parents are intimidating, unsafe.

Authoritative Parent: Expresses disappointment and concern for feelings of the other child. Explores context of incident and reminds child of more appropriate alternatives.

Child’s perceptions: The child feels remorse, his feelings/frustration are validated by parents who do not condone nor judge.

Possible outcomes: The child learns empathy, feels unconditional positive regard from parents, and learns problem solving.

Permissive Parent: Explores context of situation and suggests child refrain from hitting.

Child’s perceptions: The child feels parents will find out what she does at school, but will not follow up.

Possible outcomes: May encourage deception.

Dismissive Parent: Did you go to school today?

Child’s perceptions: Believes parents do not care what the child does. The child feels insignificant.

Possible outcomes: The child may be subject to risky behaviors, negative peer influence, and have low motivation to succeed.

 

Now, fill in the reactions of each parenting style to the behavior by explaining the child’s perception, and by explaining possible outcomes. Cite two to three scholarly sources to support your explanations.

Age: 5 years old
Behavior: Johnny cries and holds on to his mother’s legs when she takes him to kindergarten. His teacher reports that he usually settles down within 5 minutes and is well-liked by other children.
Authoritarian Parent:

Child’s perceptions:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

Child’s perceptions:

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Age: 6 years old
Behavior: Teacher reports how the child struggles to complete tasks and often seems to be daydreaming. She spends a lot of time sharpening her pencil and asking to use the restroom. At times, she pretends not to hear the teacher’s instructions, although there is no hearing impairment.
Authoritarian Parent:

Child’s perceptions:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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Age: 7 years old
Behavior: Bobby loves collecting rocks, which he keeps meticulously organized. While he was at school, his little sister got into his room and knocked over the box of his recent treasures. When Bobby discovered the damage, he slapped her hand angrily, leaving a red mark, which she showed her parents. When confronted, Bobby denied hitting her and blamed his mother for leaving his bedroom door open.
Authoritarian Parent:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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Age: 8 years old
Behavior: The daughter started a new school and has met new friends. Suddenly, she will not eat meat, not even chicken nuggets, which are her favorite. She claims that none of her friends eat meat, and that people who do are “gross and disgusting.”
Authoritarian Parent:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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Age: 9 years old
Behavior: The child plays competitive soccer. At a recent tournament, the hotel the team was staying in had a series of fire drills waking the team up several times. The team arrived completely exhausted the next morning for the championship game, which they lost 6-3. Naturally, they were upset by the loss, but they were positively enraged but the lack of fairness.
Authoritarian Parent:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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Age: 10 years old
Behavior: The son earns an allowance and had saved up for a new video game he had been longing for. He has been sullen lately, so his parents decide to cheer him up by offering to supplement the balance and surprise him with it today. Instead of excitement, he says he has changed his mind. When his parents question him further, he tells them he lost his money, then bursts in to tears. His parents learn that he had been getting bullied at school and had to ‘pay’ the bully to leave him alone.
Authoritarian Parent:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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Age: 11 years old
Behavior: The daughter brings home a report card with 2 A’s, a C, and 2 D’s.

 

Authoritarian Parent:

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Authoritative Parent:

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Permissive Parent:

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Dismissive Parent:

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