Differences in Parenting Styles: Moms v/s Dads

Although, parenting style of a mother is different as compared to that of a father, the role of each one of them is equally important for a balanced development of a child. Read on to learn about the typical parenting style of a mother and a father and their importance in a child’s life.It is said that a child needs the love of his or her mother and father equally. A dad’s love is very different both in its demonstration and manifestation from a mom’s love and a healthy balance of both parenting styles makes the child’s life perfect. While there can be no comparison as to which parenting style is better you need to understand both parenting forms to gain a better outlook. In this articleVerbal Communication DifferencesDifferent Response to Dependant BehaviourDemonstration of AffectionSelection of Care giving ActivitiesCombining the Two Parenting StylesVerbal Communication DifferencesA mother has a higher level of patience in demonstrating the same thing repetitively and answering the similar kind of questions posed by her child. A mother typically has no problem in explaining the benefits of a particular activity or a particular food multiple times. This is because of the naturally high patience and tolerance level of a woman.Fathers on the other hand give more directive instructions with considerably less focus on instruction. A dad will typically verbalise less and expect more obedience than a mom. This difference is because of the different social conditioning that men and women receive.Different Response to Dependant BehaviourA mother is more affected and more reciprocities of the dependant behaviour of her young children. She is typically the first one to hear her baby crying out for food or for any other help. A mother is naturally more prepared for nurturing her children and this is often an inborn genetic quality that is independent of social conditioning.A father is less tolerant of dependant behaviour especially when it is shown by male offspring. A father is more encouraging of letting kids do things on their own. The benefit of this approach is that the child learns to be independent faster and can pick up skills to survive individually in any type of situation.Demonstration of AffectionA mother demonstrates her affection by hugging, kissing and cuddling her kid. She typically is fond of demonstrating nurturing love in a steady predictable fashion. Mothers will sing to their kids and call them by many endearing names. Mothers also tend to continue this behaviour even when the kids grow a lot older.A father is less predictable with his pattern of showing affection. Teasing the kids, joking around with them, throwing them high up in the air and engaging in slapstick humour are typically behaviour patterns demonstrated by the father. The kid enjoys the best of both forms of love and is better prepared for the external environment which has a lot more unpredictability in it.Selection of Care giving ActivitiesBoth parents of the child act as caregivers but the role which mothers and fathers naturally choose are different. Mothers tend to choose more nurturing roles where they tend to the basic needs of their children like eating, bathing, changing clothes etc.Fathers on the other hand prefer physical interactions like teaching kids athletic activities, riding a bicycle or doing a somersault. A father is mostly interested in the proper physical development of children while a mother takes care of the emotional needs.Combining the Two Parenting StylesIt is unfair for the mother to expect the father of her kids to act like her and vice versa. A mother shares an emotional connection with her kids which the father cannot replicate though even a father’s love is critically important in the life of the child. In happy families couples learn to appreciate the difference in their parenting styles and combine both to create a secure yet energizing environment for the kid.In order for both partners to appreciate each other’s parenting styles it is advisable to work on building an empathetic relationship in which each tries to understand the other.What role does a mother play in a development of child? Why is it equally important for fathers to be involved with children? Are fathers less involved with children as compared to mothers? Discuss here.