A New Perspective On Parental Authority

Children’s behavior and lack of parental authority

Behavioral guidelines and permits, according to certain actions, are two cornerstones of family authority. Parents should constantly ask themselves what they should allow their children to do and what they should not allow. 

At the same time, some parents confuse authority with abuse of power, creating unwanted situations.

First, we need to understand what maternal and paternal authority is. Psychologists and pediatricians who are more up to date on trends in child rearing suggest treating children with respect. 

When love, solidarity and respect are your foundation, authority becomes one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.

In the past, society assigned authority exclusively to fathers, as at all by the family. Therefore, children often feared the moment their father came home from work when they associated it with punishment and lack of affection.

However, society has changed quite a bit in recent decades. Today, we are no longer talking about lack of authority. Instead, we talk about the lack of dialogue in the family. 

Positive reinforcement is always the best method. Raising a child is not about giving orders, but more about connecting with the child’s feelings. 

Each stage of a child’s life requires its own boundaries. Mothers and fathers should, respectfully, accompany in this process.

Necessary rules and arbitrary rules

When one takes into consideration that society focuses almost exclusively on adults, it is difficult for children to understand the norms. For some parents, letting a newborn cry all night is a way to exercise authority. This occurs because of the despotic education they received when they were growing up.

Child psychologists are in charge of each home establishing their own rules in the home. That way, our mindset changes.

We must no longer refer to a lack of parental authority. More specifically, the focus shifts to a need for norms in the family. Children need to know that their actions have consequences and that they are responsible for their actions.

Rules for living together as a family

In order to establish agreements for living together as a family, it is always important to keep the age of your children in mind. 

At the same time, each adult must perform a deep self-evaluation. It is important that parents recognize the authoritarian principles that society has instilled in us from an early age.

Other recommendations for respectful upbringing are to keep our emotions separate from the rules. Rules are not a personal matter, but rather a matter of helping our children learn the consequences of their actions. 

When we say things like “you have been very bad,” we are making a subjective judgment about their behavior. At the same time, we give our children a negative feeling about the rules, and the authority itself.

The rules of the game when we speak authority

When we talk about “lack of authority,” we see things through an adult-centered, outdated perspective. However, with the use of fun and creativity, we can see the family as a game. This game has, of course, its own rules. 

When you use the concept of a game as your method, lack of clear rules can make the game unattractive. You will not have to include punishment, but you need to clarify the consequences of breaking the rules. 

This new pedagogy leaves the authoritarian and empty opinions about child rearing in the background. Modern mothers and fathers do not want to repeat the painful and unreasonable situations they have experienced in their own childhood.

Today, parental authority refers to lovingly and respectfully accompanying a child’s development. The goal is to help your children create good values, and give them the tools they need to live a healthy life.