There's little doubt that things have changed considerably since we were children, so it's perhaps no surprise our approach to parenting differs somewhat from that of our own parents.
While we may have thought they were all-seeing, all-knowing oracles as we navigated our own childhood, it appears our parents' approach to child-rearing was not something many of us want to emulate once starting our own families.
According to a recent survey by WaterWipes, 53%of Irish mums have chosen to deviate from their parents' approach to child-rearing, with 39% claiming their methods are quite different to that of their own mum's and 14% asserting there exists a considerable difference.
However, while findings suggest that the new generation of parents favour child-centric parenting, there still exists a community of parents who prefer a more traditional approach.
According to the study, 40% of Irish parents asserted they employ many of the same methods as their own parents when it comes to child-rearing, with 7% claiming they boast the same parenting techniques as their own mum and dad.
Insisting there exists no quintessential model, parenting expert, Kate Barlow, reminds parents to follow their hearts and trust their own instincts when it comes to their children.
“There is no right or wrong way of parenting and every mum or dad knows their own child and, most importantly, what is best for their own child, whether that’s the tried and trusted techniques your parents used with you, or a new and different approach of your own.” she explains.
Encouraging parents to have faith in their own methods, she reminds us that we are often the best judge, asserting: “Only you know what’s best for your own family, so trust yourself and do it your way, whichever way that is.”
While parenting styles may have changed over time, Kate insists the desired outcome remains the same, saying: “Parenting has changed but what mums and dads want in 2015 isn’t very different from what parents wanted in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s – happy, healthy children.”
