Running head: CAREGIVER STYLES: FORMATIVE ASSESMENT 1

Caregiver Styles: Formative Assessment

Ramona Torres-Martinez
Fresno Pacific University

Caregiver Styles-Formative Assessment

The parenting style of caregivers is an influential factor in determining the social-

emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development of children. The type of parenting style that

the children are exposed to in their families is crucial for the childs healthy growth and for

being able to develop positive personality structure (Kol, 2016, p.50). Each of the four styles of
CAREGIVER STYLES: FORMATIVE ASSESMENT 2

parenting has their unique characteristics displayed by the caregivers and behavioral outcomes

for children.
The first of the parenting types that according to Marion, (2015) possess qualities that

help children develop equally positive qualities (p.14) is the Authoritative style. In this style of

parenting the caregivers exhibit behaviors that encourage children to develop positive and

constructive skills. The caregivers have high demand and expectations for their childrens

behaviors, but also offer a high level of awareness for their social-emotional needs. One positive

characteristic of this parenting style is that caregivers demonstrate to be caring and respectful

towards the needs of the children. The caregivers create rules and limits that are

developmentally appropriate and foster a sense of protection for the child. Another characteristic

of the Authoritative parenting style is that caregivers provide a positive discipline without

disrupting their childs self-esteem, but instead encouraging a healthy development of

confidence. (Marion, 2015)

The children that are raised in with this type of parenting style demonstrate a high sense

of trust in their abilities and skills. Children feel comfortable with their sense of self and can

perform activities with certainty. Another important behavior of children reared by an

Authoritative caregiver is that develop an appreciation for independence because they have been

encouraged to develop a sense of security and self-esteem. Lastly, children learn from their

caregivers how to show respect, compassion, and fairness towards others because they have

learned these traits from the Authoritative caregiver. Children can control their emotions and

become aware that the feelings of others are also important. (Marion, 2015)
The Authoritarian parenting style, unlike the Authoritative style, is based on harsh limits

and punishments that harm the social-emotional development of the children. The characteristics

of caregivers in this style include lack of adequate supervision and negative consequences for

behaviors they deem inappropriate. Another characteristic is that caregivers are focused on
CAREGIVER STYLES: FORMATIVE ASSESMENT 3

controlling behaviors by using punishment as a form of control over the children. But in most

cases the actions that caregivers in this parenting style are attempting to discontinue punishment

only increase because of the ineffectiveness of the discipline method.

The children reared in an Authoritarian household lack strong social-emotional skills that

are essential in developing skills like self-esteem, independence, and empathy. Children also

lack the confidence to perform activities on their own because they have doubt in their abilities

and competencies. One important characteristic is that children with this type of parenting style

display violent behaviors that limit their ability to develop friendships because they do not have

an awareness that their actions are hurtful to others. As Kol (2016), states children with poor

social skills are being faced with various problems throughout their lives in interpersonal

relationships, in their academic studies, in emotional-behavioral areas and their professional lives

(p.50). Children cared by a caregiver with Authoritarian beliefs are learning unhealthy behaviors

that impact their development and have long lasting effects into their adulthood.
In the Indulgent and Uninvolved type of parenting styles, the caregivers are characterized

as having a lenient pattern of child-rearing. The caregivers in these styles have little to no

expectations for the behavior of their children because there are no established rules to follow.

Caregivers also share the decision making with the child and allow them to make decisions on

issues like daily activities and routines. One characteristic that distinguished the Indulgent from

an uninvolved parent is that the caregivers are sensitive to the child needs and provide social-

emotional support regardless of the lack of rules or limits (Marion, 2015).

The children from Indulgent and Uninvolved parenting styles have difficulty control their

inappropriate behavior and actions because of the lack of limits and rules from the caregivers.

Another characteristic that is displayed by the behavior of children is that they also lack the

confidence, independence, and self-esteem that are an important part of their development

(Marion, 2015).
CAREGIVER STYLES: FORMATIVE ASSESMENT 4

Parenting styles and the care provided by caregivers impact the overall development of

children. Through parenting, styles children will learn about the expectations for their behaviors

in social setting and interactions with others. The skills that children develop from the form of

parenting style influences their future behavior and beliefs as they grow into adulthood. Overall,

the parenting style is indicative of a healthy development of social-emotional development in

children.

References
Kol, S. (2016). The Effects of Parenting Styles on the Social Skills of Children Aged 5-6. The

Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Scienes. (4), 49-58 Retrieved on February 26,

2017 from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.librarycatalog.fresno.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid,url&db=eric&AN=EJ1096005&site=eds-live
Marion, M. (2015). Guidance of Young Children. (9th ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:

Pearson Education, Inc.

Poljak Luked, S. (2015). Intergenerational Transfer of Parenting Styles: Correlations between

experiences of Punitive Discipline in Childhood, Opinion Regarding Discipline Methods,

and context of Parenting. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(3), 299-

318. Doi: 10.1080/10926771.2015.1009600 Retrieved on February 26, 2017 From

http://0-search.ebscohost.com.librarycatalog.fresno.edu/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid,url&db=eric&AN=EJ1096005&site=eds-live