Parenting tips

Parenting, or child-rearing, involves fostering and supporting a child’s physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and educational growth from infancy through adulthood. It refers to the complex process of raising a child and does not necessarily imply a biological relationship.The most frequent caregivers are usually the child’s biological parents. However, others such as older siblings, step-parents, grandparents, legal guardians, aunts, uncles, extended family, or close family friends may also take on the role. In addition, governments and communities may contribute to the upbringing of children. In situations where children are orphaned or abandoned, they may be cared for by non-parents or unrelated individuals. Some may be adopted, placed in foster care, or live in orphanages.

Parenting approaches differ depending on time period, culture, socioeconomic status, personal choices, and other social influences. There is no single universally “right” way to raise a child, as the effects of parenting styles vary based on the child’s individual circumstances and temperament. Studies also suggest that a parent’s own history—such as their childhood attachments and mental health, especially following difficult life experiences—can greatly affect their sensitivity as parents and, in turn, their child’s development. Similarly, parenting can have lasting effects on adopted children, with research showing that nurturing and supportive adoptive parenting is linked to fewer behavioral and emotional difficulties over time.

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Bad parenting

Sometimes it is clear when a parent is harming their child. Physical harm, neglect, emotional mistreatment, and sexual abuse are the most severe and damaging forms of parental behavior that most people recognize as abusive. These situations demand immediate intervention to ensure the child’s safety.

External professionals and child protection agencies may become involved, and the child will likely require psychological support to process and begin healing from the trauma. Parents may face criminal charges and are also likely to receive mental health services.

Bad parenting game

The realm of eerie indie horror games is full of hidden treasures that often go unnoticed. Some have managed to break into the mainstream, like the first-person survival horror “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” and the uniquely terrifying “Cry of Fear.” Yet, if you explore the shadowy corners of this niche, you may discover overlooked narratives crafted to inspire both fear and fascination.

 I recall playing Bit Golem’s “Dagon” — an impressive, spine-chilling 3D journey inspired by H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos — and being completely absorbed by the psychological depth conveyed purely through its environment. Despite being a remarkable labor of love, “Dagon” hasn’t received the recognition it deserves, especially considering it’s available for free. On the other hand, certain indie games unexpectedly capture widespread attention, offering a raw and unconventional take on intricate themes. 2OO2’s “Bad Parenting 1: Mr. Red Face” serves as a perfect example of this phenomenon.

Authoritative parenting

Baumrind described this as the “just right” approach, balancing moderate demands with moderate responsiveness. Authoritative parents emphasize positive reinforcement and rarely use punishment. They are attentive to a child’s emotions and abilities, fostering independence within reasonable boundaries. Communication is reciprocal, with a balance of guidance and support. Research suggests this style is more effective than the strict authoritarian or overly lenient permissive approaches.[25][26]

Children raised by authoritative parents generally show higher competence, better mental health, and stronger social skills compared to those raised in permissive, authoritarian, or neglectful households.[27][28] However, Dr. Wendy Grolnick criticized Baumrind’s use of “firm control,” suggesting that a distinction should be made between coercive control (which harms children) and structured, high-expectation parenting (which is beneficial).[29]

Parenting styles

A parenting style reflects the general emotional atmosphere within a household.[13] Developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind identified three primary parenting styles during early childhood development: authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive.[14][15][16][17] Later research added a fourth style, the uninvolved parent. These styles represent combinations of warmth and responsiveness, along with levels of expectations and control.[18] Studies[19] indicate that a parent’s approach significantly affects a child’s later mental health and overall well-being.

Specifically, authoritative parenting is linked to better mental health and higher life satisfaction, while authoritarian parenting is linked to poorer outcomes.[20] With authoritarian and permissive parenting often seen as opposite extremes, most modern parenting approaches tend to fall somewhere in between.[21] Although widely cited, Baumrind’s framework has been criticized for being too broad and for presenting an overly idealized version of authoritative parenting.[22][23][24]

Is bad parenting based on a true story

Bad Parenting (also known as Bad Parenting 1: Mr. Red Face) is a horror game offered as pay-what-you-want that has gained massive attention online. It’s currently available on the indie-focused digital storefront itch.io.

The story centers on a young boy trying to protect his family while encountering supernatural events in his cramped shoebox apartment. While it includes numerous paranormal elements, the game also touches on serious real-world issues, such as child abuse.

Authoritarian parenting

Authoritarian parents are strict and inflexible. They impose high expectations but offer minimal responsiveness. These parents enforce strict rules without negotiation and demand absolute obedience. Rule-breaking is often met with punishment, usually without explanation beyond the child having “broken a rule.”[30][31] This style is frequently associated with corporal punishment, such as spanking, and tends to occur more in working-class families than in middle-class ones.[32][33]

Baumrind’s 1983 research found that children raised in authoritarian households were often less cheerful, moodier, and more susceptible to stress. They sometimes also showed passive hostility. This parenting style can negatively affect academic performance and career outcomes, while firm yet supportive parenting can have positive effects.[34]

Permissive parentin

Permissive parenting has become more common among middle-class families than working-class families since the end of World War II.[35] In this approach, children’s independence is highly valued, and parents mainly rely on reasoning and explanation. These parents set few demands and rarely enforce rules or discipline. Children are largely free to make their own choices, and parents are highly responsive to their desires.

While children of permissive parents are often happy, they may struggle with self-control and independence due to the lack of structure.[36] Author Alfie Kohn criticized the study of permissive parenting, arguing that it blurs the distinction between parents who are genuinely democratic and those who are simply inconsistent or unsure.[23]

Gentel parenting

Gentle parenting is a parenting approach that avoids shame, blame, or punishment. While there are many misconceptions about it, this is the core and most accurate definition. It emphasizes partnership, giving both parents and children a voice in this cooperative style. As the name suggests, gentle parenting is a softer, more compassionate way of raising children. Caregivers who follow this method guide their children with steady, empathetic boundaries rather than strict or forceful discipline. Those who practice gentle parenting may also incorporate other approaches, such as instinctive parenting or elephant parenting, into their overall style.

“Gentle parenting, sometimes referred to as collaborative parenting, is a way of raising children in which parents avoid enforcing behavior through punishment or control. Instead, they focus on connection, open communication, and democratic decision-making within the family,” explains Danielle Sullivan, a parenting coach and host of the Neurodiverging Podcast in Lafayette, Colorado.