Setting boundaries
For some, friendship connotes a relationship in which nobody has authority. However, based on research, children are more likely to develop and thrive when their parents show affection and apply age-appropriate boundaries to their child’s behaviors. There is also evidence which associates permissive parenting to poor self-control on the child’s part. In a study of African-American adolescents, children who described their parents as permissive were more likely to say that they would use violence in conflicts.
Children will also be negatively affected should parents be friends with their child, especially if friendship connotes treating children as “adult therapists.” In a study focused on adolescent daughters of divorced parents, the children felt psychological distress when their parents burdened them with confessions of personal problems and even negative feelings about their ex-partners. These confessions were also shown not to contribute to feelings of closeness between mothers and daughters.
Should parents be friends with their child: Limits are the key to a healthy parent-child friendship
However, there are ways by which parents can befriend their child and still be a responsible adults.
Should parents be friends with their child, they must establish household rules. There must be consequences for rules that are not obeyed, teaching them to become accountable for their actions. Although this may be challenging at first, the child will ultimately benefit from being in a family that sets rules to keep them safe.
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion