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 by: Kirsten Hawkins

As a parent, you have the opportunity to set the tone in your home based on the style of parenting you choose. You can choose child-centered parenting or family-centered parenting—the differences will be discussed here.

 Child-centered Parenting

• Intensely pursue the child’s happiness, taking great strains to avoid discomfort or emotional stress for the child.

• The child receives what she wants when she wants it: no delay, no waiting.

These concepts might not sound too bad, but what happens when Mom is sick? Or when Mom & Dad want to leave the baby with a sitter? There is little-to-no freedom in this parenting plan—and the baby will not grow in to a child who understands delayed gratification or how the world works. Additionally, this sets a child up for a bad case of “me-ism”—other people will not matter to her. Her goals and needs are paramount to everyone else’s goals and needs, and the ability to look outward and understand being part of a team will be compromised.

 Family-centered Parenting

• Keeps the baby’s needs met, but within the appropriate context of the family unit.

• The child enters in to a team-setting; she is not the center of the universe, but part of the family-team.