Raising Children With the Laissez-Faire Parenting Style

by: HeatherBanks
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Parenting is one of the biggest life decisions ever made and raising children is the second step to a life long series of changes. When choosing the right parenting style for child rearing, parents often look to their parents and to how they were raised in order to create their own parenting style. But, for some, a total deviation fro what they know and understand feels right. This deviation from the norm is at the heart of raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style.

What exactly does raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style entail? It entails changing the parenting mindset from, I must do this for you!" to "I must allow you to learn for yourself." The 24 hour a day / 7 day a week hold your hand tour through life has little to do with raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style.

No bottle weaning. When choosing the path of raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style, there will be no weaning from the bottle. Instead, the parent will introduce options to the baby and teach them how to use these options with the sole intention of the child choosing one of the options over the bottle. A straw is the perfect choice in this case. Children love straws and once they learn how to use them, they will no longer want to deal with that slow moving bottle.

Potty training. Potty training is another very big mountain to climb with baby. When raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style, potty training is less about making the baby sit on the potty and more about showing the baby how to use the potty. Raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style takes a more open mind about bathroom usage, but works wonders by giving the deciding choice back to the child.

No influencing decisions. One of the main things a parent raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style can do is to allow the child to choose the paths of life for themselves. When asked a question that requires a decision on the child's part, the parent must offer knowledge about all of the choices but decide none. If the child is stuck choosing between soccer, volleyball and ballet, offer real knowledge about each and them leave the decision in the court of the child.

Mistakes are okay. Children are going to make mistakes and that is what raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style is all about. Mistakes are what change us, mold us and teach us about life and how the decisions we make affect us later.

There may be struggles and difficulties for the parent raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style. Not because of the parenting style itself, but more because of the traditional values instilled in us all throughout life. Laissez-faire does not mean lazy, it means a dedication to teaching a child through life experiences while allowing them to walk freely on their own.

Stepping back from the more traditional parenting styles and into raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style is a big step. Take each day head on and try your best to stay objective. No one said raising children with the laissez-faire parenting style was going to be easy and no one said the laid back attitude was going to benefit the parent.

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Raising children to be successful, happy adults can be challenging to even the best of parents. Check out these free resources that will help you better your parenting skills.  

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