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- What Is Uninvolved or Neglectful Parenting?
- Characteristics of Uninvolved Parenting Style
- Why Do Parents Usually Adopt Neglectful Parenting Style
- What Are the Effects of Uninvolved Parenting on a Child?
- What Are the Consequences of Uninvolved Parenting?
- Uninvolved Parenting Examples
- How to Come out of Uninvolved Parenting Style
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Where some parents may be overly involved in bringing up their children, others may have the exact opposite way of parenting. However, the trick is to have the right balance between the two. Where being overly protective and having a loving attitude towards your kid may have its adverse impact on the development of your kid, uninvolved parenting may also have its negative impact on the overall development of your child too. Interested in knowing more about the latter style of parenting? We recommend you to read the following article, as we shall be discussing neglectful or uninvolved parenting style, its features and how it may impact your child.
What Is Uninvolved or Neglectful Parenting?
As the name suggests, uninvolved or neglectful parenting is a style of parenting in which parents may have minimal or no involvement in their kid’s overall needs. In other words, in this style of parenting, the parents have the least involvement in the emotional, physical, academic or other important aspects of their child’s life and they may just provide for the bare or basic aspects of their child’s life such food, shelter, clothing etc.
Characteristics of Uninvolved Parenting Style
Here are some of the characteristics of neglectful parenting style:
1. Parents Too Occupied in Their Own Life
When the parents are too tied up in dealing with the issues in their lives such as their professional, social or emotional issues, they might unwittingly resort to uninvolved parenting. They may be too occupied in solving their problems and concerned about their lives that they may have the least interest in their child’s life.
2. Inappropriate Supervision
Sometimes parents may adopt either of the extreme approaches: they may either be too lenient towards their kid and may not know what he may be doing, or they may be too strict that they may restrict their kid’s social involvement.
3. Lack of Emotional Attachment With Their Kid
Parents may not feel emotionally attached to their kids and may just provide for their basic needs. They may not know what is going on in their kid’s life, what their kid may be doing in school, how many friends he may have and various such emotional aspects of their child’s life.
4. Substance Abuse
If parents are addicted to any illegal drugs, alcohol or any other abusive substance, it may make them uninvolved or neglectful towards their child.
5. No or Minimal Expectation From Their Kid
Such parents may not at all be concerned and bothered about their kid’s achievements in various spheres.
6. Parents May Not Show Affection
Such parents may not express their love towards their kids by hugging, kissing or by any other ways. They may have an indifferent attitude towards their child.
Why Do Parents Usually Adopt Neglectful Parenting Style
Is it sheer negligence on parent’s part that may make them such kinds of parents or is there more to it? Let us find out why parents adopt this kind of parenting style:
1. For the Betterment of Their Kid
Believe it or not but some parents may think that this kind of parenting may make their kid tough and strong and may help him face the various challenges of life.
2. Unaware of Their Responsibility
If the parents may not be sure what they are expected to do or not do for their kid, it may cause confusion and thus indifferent attitude towards their kid.
3. Selfish or Self-centred Approach
Some people are too self-obsessed and are least concerned about the needs and well-being of others, and that may include their kids too.
4. Challenging Lifestyles
Sometimes parents may have certain lifestyles that may make it difficult for them to have time for their kids.
5. If They Themselves Suffered the Same
If the parents faced a similar kind of parenting style, it is quite likely that they may follow the same style too.
What Are the Effects of Uninvolved Parenting on a Child?
Uninvolved parenting style may affect a child in more than one way, and some of the effects of neglectful parenting on a child may include the following:
- The child may feel directionless and may feel too lost.
- The child may struggle to find his identity and may often be too timid.
- Girls may turn out to be emotionally weak and may not have successful relationships in life. They may always look for affection and love.
- Boys, on the other hand, may not be able to make decisions and may not even turn out to be good dads themselves.
What Are the Consequences of Uninvolved Parenting?
Here are some consequences that your kid may have to face due to neglected parenting style:
- Due to a lack of guidance, the children may feel lost and directionless. They turn out to be disillusioned and may not be able to make simple decisions in life and may rely on others for the same.
- If the kid does not feel loved, it may adversely impact this psychological development.
- If the child has undergone this kind of parenting, he may himself adopt a similar parenting style.
- In a situation where there is no order or rules in the house, the child may find it difficult to follow the rules elsewhere too.
- If the child feels detached and unloved, he may drift to substance abuse, and if parents are into it, the risk may become higher for the kid.
- Due to the lack of adult supervision and guidance, a child’s personality may not fully develop, and the kid may struggle to find his personality.
- Children who face perpetual neglect may develop various physiological disorders such as depression.
- As kids do not always know how to deal with emotions, they may exhibit extreme emotions such as fear, anxiety etc.
- If the kids are not cared for and nurtured well, they may have to take care of themselves; this may make them lose their innocence.
Uninvolved Parenting Examples
Following are some examples that may help you understand this parenting style:
- Example 1: Your kid is back from a picnic with friends for the entire day. You do not ask him anything about his day or ask him whether he had fun with his friends.
- Example 2: Your kid has a lot of homework and a big project that he needs to finish before the deadline. Your kid is too worried and tensed about the whole issue, and you do not offer to help or console him.
- Example 3: Your kid comes back home after a long day at school. You neither welcome him nor offer him a good nutritious meal. Rather you expect him to heat up his own food and have it.
- Example 4: You have a very demanding job that takes most of your time, and you do not spend time some quality time with your child.
How to Come out of Uninvolved Parenting Style
Once you have become the victim of this parenting style, so does that mean that you cannot undo the effects? Well, you may not be able to undo what’s done, but you can certainly make certain amends and come of this negative style of parenting. Following are some tips that may help:
- Express love to your kids, let them know they are loved and valued.
- Encourage your kids to make decisions, offer them solutions if you feel they may falter.
- If you find your child not active, sad, gloomy or feeling low, talk to your kid and try and find out the reason for the same.
- No matter how busy you may be with your life, always find time for the kid and spend some quality time together.
- Open the channels of communication with your kid and do not be unapproachable. Be available to your kid when he needs you.
- If you think you may not be able to get out of this parenting style, you may seek the help of a professional.
There is no doubt that parenting may be pretty daunting for the parents, but this certainly does not mean that you neglect your kid. If you feel that you are not able to handle the pressure of parenting or not able to do it properly, you should reach for professional help.
Also Read: Authoritarian Parenting