Introduction
Whether it occurs intentionally or accidentally, infective parenting has far-reaching consequences on a child’s life. Ineffective parenting is whereby a parent fails to perform the duties associated with caring for a child (Gosselin, 2019). Parents have numerous responsibilities towards their children ranging from providing them with basic needs to teaching them life skills. When a child is nurtured ineffectively, they grow up into adults who cannot function properly in society. Ineffective parenting causes a child to be maladjusted and have a difficult time navigating various spheres of adulthood.
Ineffective Parenting
Ineffective parenting could make a child unable to live, work, or relate with others. Parents have a responsibility to prepare their children for adulthood (Gosselin, 2019). Adulthood entails living and interacting with other people. If a parent does not teach their child the skills needed to interact with others, the child could become socially inept. For instance, when a parent does not teach their children how to be respectful towards other people, the child will grow up disrespectful, a trait admonished by society. This may happen a parent reinforces poor social skills such as the use of abusive language. Such behavior would cause the child to have difficulty forming and sustaining friendships, which is a problem that would last a long time. Thus, ineffective parenting may lead to social stunting in future.
In addition to impairing a child’s social skills, ineffective parenting may result in a codependent relationship between a parent and their child. One of the duties of a parent is to nurture a child to be independent (Gosselin, 2019). A parent should prepare their child so that they can be more independent as they grow. This includes showing them how to do tasks such as cleaning. It entails giving children freedom to make decide by themselves as they grow older. When a parent denies their child the opportunity to learn how to be more independent, they effectively ensure that the child will always depend on them. For example, a child who is taught to always seek their parent’s approval might never learn how to make decisions; they resort to asking their parent everything. Failing to teach a child how to operate on their own means that the child might never learn how to be self-sufficient.
Lastly, ineffective parenting could negatively affect a child’s psychological wellbeing. Effective parents avoid harming their children with their words or actions, while ineffective parents do not care about the mental health of their children. For instance, a child may develop anxiety and low self-esteem if their parent punishes them heavily even for actions they did not know were wrong. While it is the duty of a parent to correct their child, it should not be done in a manner that leads a child to fear their parent; this is ineffective parenting. When a child is under constant stress, it would disturb their psychological welfare even in adulthood. Ineffective parenting could lead to self-esteem issues and lifelong mental trauma.
Conclusion
In summary, ineffective parenting has long-term effects on a child’s life. Ineffective parenting occurs when a parent fails to perform their duties to their child efficiently enough for the child to be well-adjusted. It happens when parents are either too lenient or too strict with their children. While it is difficult to define good parenting, both approaches to parenting impact a child’s future negatively. Ineffective parenting leads children to be inept and ill-prepared for adulthood. Generally, parents should strive to ensure that they help their children mature into responsible adults.
Reference
Gosselin, D. K. (2019). Family and inmate partner violence: Heavy hands. Pearson.