ABSTRACT
Parents wants to know what to expect at different stages of development. Over the centuries there have been many theories about the role of parents. Here are four different ideas on this subject. The clay moulding model: Here the child is seen as a passive lump of clay. The laissez-faire model: Here the parents are seen as having limited influence. The conflict model: In this model the needs of the child and the parent are at odds. The mutuality model: This model is the one now accepted by most specialists in child development. In some respects the idea of parenting styles can be linked to the different models of child development we discussed earlier. Of all the many emotions that parents of teenagers experience, one of the most common is the sense of not having a role anymore. The search for independence creates challenges for adults. Sanctions for teenagers will need to be different from those used with younger children.
