Parenting with Love, Limits, and Latitude

Rearing Children in Love and Righteousness

            What a blessing it is to be entrusted with little children. As parents we are held responsible for our children. We are held responsible for keeping our children safe, meeting their needs, providing for our children, loving and nurturing our children, and we are responsible for the knowledge our children receive. These are just a few main areas in which parents are held accountable. As parents we should understand that while some individuals share similarities, everyone is different.  You may share similarities and have differences with your spouse. Your children will also share similarities and have differences from you and your spouse. Every child is an individual and created to be different from everyone else. “The Proclamation admonishes respect for the divine and individual nature of children as parents love, teach, and guide them with an emphasis on teaching and preparing children rather than unrighteous controlling their wills.”

            “In order to promote optimal development and to rear children in love and righteousness, the following are crucial elements for each child, although specific implementations and approaches may be individualized based upon the needs and personality of the particular child:

• Love, warmth, and support
• Clear and reasonable expectations for competent behavior
• Limits and boundaries with some room for negotiation and compromise
• Reasoning and developmentally appropriate consequences and punishments for breaching established limits
• Opportunities to preform competently and make choices
• Absence of coercive, hostile forms of discipline, such as harsh physical punishment, love withdrawal, shaming, and inflicting guilt
• Models of appropriate behavior consistent with self-control, positive values, and positive attitudes”

                  
                  These points are characteristics of the authoritative parenting style. “Authoritative parenting fosters a positive emotional connection with children, provides for regulation that places fair and consistent limits on child behavior, and allows for reasonable child autonomy in decision making.” Authoritative parenting requires and is most effective when both parents are part of the process. Both parents need to be unified in their parenting techniques and approaches. “Authoritative parenting includes love, limits, and latitude.” Parents are children’s teachers. Children will pick up on parenting strengths and weaknesses. As parents strive to incorporate these authoritative parenting practices, children will learn from love, abide by the rules, and receive greater academic and social success in life. Children will learn to be their own judges and make decisions based upon instilled values and beliefs.