IMPACT OF PARENTING ON SOCIAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD UNDER NIGERIAN LAW

Abstract

Different parenting philosophies have distinct impacts on kids, influencing their growth in a variety of important ways. Children’s emotional, social and behavioural results are influenced by the unique traits of each parenting style, to wit: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful/uninvolved parenting styles. The purpose of this study was to appraise these dominant parenting styles and their influence on children’s social growth and development. The study utilised the doctrinal research method whereof statutes and case law were utilized as primary source of data, while textbooks, journal/articles and reliable internet materials were used as secondary sources of data. Findings revealed that parenting style has influence on students’ social development. It is inferred that authoritative parenting based on reasoning, understanding, consensus and trust, resulted in pro-social behaviour while authoritarian parenting based on strict rules, force, threat, verbal and physical punishments resulted in anti-social behaviour. It is, therefore, recommended that parents should endeavour to adopt authoritative parenting style to enable their children and wards to develop pro-social behaviour. This would help parents, guardians, teachers and school authorities to understand and appreciate the relationship between parenting style and children’s social development. It is also recommended that for us to have a better and sane society, parents and care givers should always strive to inculcate good morals in children. This will help them grow into better adults. The study concluded that performing moral, psychological and educational interventions in the community and increasing people’s awareness about the psychological factors of parenting style have an effective role in nurturing children’s behaviour in the future, and that lays a solid foundation for a better society.