A common goal for every parent when they look into their child’s eyes is to raise them to be the most successful and best version of themselves possible. Yet not every style of parenting guides the child down the path to become a successful adult.
   According to the article “Why Parenting Styles Matter When Raising Children” written by Kendra Cherry on www.verywellmind.com, “Your parenting style can affect everything from your child’s self-esteem and physical health to how they relate to others.” So how does the way a child is parented affect their chance of becoming successful in the future?

Parental Rules and Regulations
   The rules and restrictions imposed on a child growing up are a big part of dictating their actions as they get older and gain more independence. Rules are necessary for the child’s safety, health, and general well-being.
   Shawn M, a sophomore here at Miami High, stated, “When I was growing up, the rules my parents had set for me weren’t abnormal. It was important that I was respectful to others, cleaned up after myself, and behaved primarily.”
  Shawn feels that while his parents have always been serious about him getting good grades, overall, they aren’t strict. “They just want me to succeed in life, in school, whatever I want to do in the future, and be better than they are,” he stated.

   A female sophomore J.O. said, “Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to have a phone until middle school. I also had to do homework upon arriving home, couldn’t close my room door, and had to be in bed by 7 pm. I think my mom is strict to an extent, mostly regarding school and relationships, but never to the point of invading my privacy, checking through the contents of my phone, or not allowing me to go out.”

    On the other hand, too many or too few rules can influence a child’s decision making once they’re finally of age to make important decisions for themselves.
   It’s important to enforce rules that keep children safe and healthy, but not so many that they do not have any room to grow and mature.  According to the article “Negative Effects of Too Many Rules on Children” written by Tiffany Raiford on howtoadult.com, “As your children become more mature and responsible, they typically want a little more freedom and independence to make their own decisions. If the sheer number of rules in your household prevents them from having some freedom and ability to make decisions, they are likely to rebel, start sneaking around, or blatantly defying you.” 

The Effect of Parents on their Children’s Success
   Authoritarian parenting styles generally lead to obedient and proficient children, but according to “Parent Involvement Can Benefit Children in Many Ways” written by Rebecca Fraser-Thill on www.verywellfamily.com, they rank lower in happiness, social competence, and self-esteem. They may also be more likely to lie to avoid punishment.
   Anonymous female senior B.H. feels that parenting that is consistently too strict and monitored can cause a child, especially a growing teen, to feel as though nothing they do is ever enough or trustworthy. “As someone who’s been raised in a relatively strict household, my parents tend to look at the one thing I’ve done wrong amongst all the good or the single B amongst all the A’s. It makes it hard to remain motivated when I feel like no matter how hard I try to get good grades and behave, there will always be something I’ve done wrong or that makes me not good enough. I know they want me to be as successful as possible. I also want that for myself, but motivation and telling your kid they’ve done great can also go a long way.”

   On the contrary, the children of uninvolved parents tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem, and are less competent than their peers.
   “I think there are some parents who don’t really care what their kids are doing,” stated Shawn M. “Allowing them to go and come as they please, smoke and drink, and not checking in occasionally sets them up for an unsuccessful life. While freedom is great, too much of it can be problematic, especially when unchecked or with parents who show a lack of concern with keeping their children on the right path in life. To raise a well-rounded successful child, I think it’s important that the parent can balance adapting to their needs, guiding, and supporting them all while giving them the necessary independence and freedom to grow and make their own decisions.”
 

Guiding to Goals
   Goals can help children stay motivated, continue improving and practicing the skills needed to reach their “big goal,” and give them more opportunities to celebrate success along the way. Setting goals also helps them practice self-commitment, guides focus, and sustains that momentum in life. These goals all result in the child reaching and achieving the dream they desire, but it’s difficult to maintain these goals to reaching their dreams without the support and guidance of a loving parent.
   Anonymous female sophomore J.O, who plans to become a lawyer, stated, “My mom has been a large supporter of my dreams, putting me in the law magnet here at Miami High to help me grow my abilities and knowledge of the field. She’s also asked a family friend to provide me with their old law books.”
   Anonymous male senior M.U. says that while he hasn’t planned out his future as much as he should’ve by now, his parents have promised to be supportive of whatever he chooses and even recommend career paths to him that they think he may enjoy, while offering to help him achieve that path if he chooses it. “They’ve been a great motivation to getting my life together and have taken their time with me despite my indecisiveness,” he states.

The Parental Effect on Grades
   According to an article titled “Parent Involvement Can Benefit Children in Many Ways” written by  Rebecca Fraser-Thill on www.verywellfamily.com, “Countless studies have found that kids perform better in school when their parents are involved with their schoolwork. Compared to students whose parents are uninvolved, kids with involved parents get better grades and are thought more highly of by teachers. These effects remain in the future, even if parents become less involved as the child ages.”
   Junior Kelim Castellanos said, “With my mom always in my corner assuring I complete everything, I was able to end off the last 9-weeks with straight A’s, so I’d consider myself a good student. I’m rather self-sufficient and I want to make sure I can qualify for scholarships, go to college, and be successful in the future not only for my family, but for myself as well.”