This type of parenting is the most effective in raising a child to become a happy well-adjusted person. Reasonable expectations of the parent are high yet tempered with understanding and support for the child. The child knows what is expected of them and has consequences for behaviors which are not supported by the parent once the child knows what those expectations are. Children push boundaries so they can find out what those boundaries are and if their parent is going to keep their word. Pushing boundaries is part of the job of being a child.
A child needs to have a structured day, such as a planned bedtime and household rules which they understand and consequences for breaking them. They need a healthy and open line of communication with their parents so they can speak about anything without fear of negative consequences or harsh judgement. This type of parenting keeps a child honest and following the rules at the same time.
Consequences can be something as simple as sending a child to their room for a very short period of time (2 minutes is enough with an alarm set to ring when they can come out), after being told why they are being sent there for something they did that they had previously been told not to do. This type of parenting creates a child who is not in control, like so many children are, and yet the control of the parent is gentle and not based on fear.
This type of parenting creates a healthy environment and assists in creating a loving and kind relationship between parents and child with the parent being the guiding light in charge and the child feeling loved. One thing to remember is that children really do want to please their parents. This happens when a child is told what to do, not what not to do, so they know what they are supposed to do and gladly follow the rules, learning that when they do not there are consequences.
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