What is Child-Rearing?

Child-rearing encompasses the processes and strategies parents use to nurture and guide a child from birth to adulthood. These methods vary widely across the United States and globally, influenced by cultural differences and diverse views on discipline, rule-setting, and obedience. 

There is no single “right way” to raise a child. Parents can successfully nurture independent and confident children through various approaches. However, research consistently highlights one common theme: parental care and involvement are crucial to successful child-rearing. The best outcomes are achieved by setting clear rules and collaboratively addressing challenges with children. 

At Touro, studying child-rearing strategies and their practical application is a vital component of our health and human services degree programs. We equip students with the knowledge and skills to support parents and children in achieving positive, long-lasting outcomes. 

Child-Rearing Definition and Approaches

Child rearing refers to the methods, strategies, and practices used by parents and caregivers to nurture and guide a child’s development from infancy through adulthood. This process involves teaching children social norms, values, and behaviors, as well as providing emotional support, discipline, and education. Child-rearing practices can vary widely based on cultural, social, and familial influences, shaping how children are raised in different parts of the world.

Writing for CNBC, psychologist Francyne Zeltser describes the four main child-rearing approaches that parents use:

• Permissive. This is a child-driven approach in which parents rarely give or enforce rules. Children sometimes overindulged to avoid conflict.
• Authoritative. Parents solve problems with their children and set clear rules and expectations.
• Neglectful. Parents have low demand, but also low responsiveness to their child’s needs. Parents offer little nurturing, guidance, or attention.
• Authoritarian. Parents have high demands, but low responsiveness. They enforce rules with little consideration for the child’s feelings or social-emotional and behavioral needs.

According to Zeltser, previous research shows that authoritative parents typically raise kids who are more likely to become independent, self-reliant, and socially competent.

Child-Rearing in the United States

Research done by Sara Harkness, a professor of human development at the University of Connecticut, found a common parenting theme in the United States. More than other countries, U.S. parents tend to emphasize early-age cognition. American parents are more likely to focus on the importance of maintaining high levels of mental arousal and activity than parents elsewhere in the world.

However, the picture is more nuanced depending on the region. Studies of American parents find a variety of parental approaches in different regions of the country. For example, parents in the South are more likely to demand obedience and respect from their children than parents in Central Florida. Floridian parents are far more likely to include children in discussions of family decisions, allow disagreements, and allow children to make their own decisions.

The research also suggests that the authoritative parenting style is the most common in the U.S. However, the authoritarian style – demanding, but not responsive – is also common.

Unique Child-Rearing Practices from Around the World

There is no official guidebook for parents, so they adopt different child-rearing approaches based on family traditions, cultural norms, and successful methods they’ve seen. These differences create a variety of child-rearing strategies worldwide. Here are some interesting examples from the Australian website Parent TV: 

Recuperation Periods: In many countries, mothers get time to bond with their newborns without distractions. In China, this period lasts one month, while in Guatemala, it lasts nine months. 

Parental Expectations: Dutch parents avoid pushing their children too hard. In contrast, Asian parents often encourage academic excellence from a young age. 

Early Childhood Education: In Norway, children enter state-sponsored daycare at age one, emphasizing institutionalized early childhood. 

Independence: Japanese children gain independence early, with six-year-olds going to school and running errands alone. In Japan, society expects adults to watch out for and protect all children. 

Outdoor Living: Scandinavian countries emphasize “friluftsliv,” or open-air living. This includes letting children nap outside, even in winter. 

Potty Training: In China and Vietnam, many children are potty trained using a whistle starting at just a few months old. 

Gap Years and Education: In the UK, it’s common for kids to take a gap year between high school and college. Finnish children, who excel in education, typically start school at age seven. 

Family Meals: Italian children often drink wine with dinner alongside adults. 

Parenting in the United States

Sarah Harkness’ study highlights that U.S. parents highly value independence and hard work. They emphasize individualistic traits, focusing on raising children to be self-reliant and materially successful. 

American parents often prioritize personal freedom and encourage their children to achieve greater material success than themselves. This individualistic approach contrasts with the norm in many other parts of the world, where collectivist ideals such as obedience, calmness, politeness, and respect are emphasized. These cultures focus on teaching children to be responsible for their behavior and to avoid bringing shame to themselves, their family, and their community. 

These differing approaches to child-rearing provide insights into why people from the U.S. may behave differently than those from other cultures. Both individualistic and collectivist cultures have their own definitions of “success” in raising a child. These differences can sometimes lead to cultural clashes. Success can be measured in various ways, including:

• Financial stability 
• Happiness 
• Family togetherness 
• Strong religious faith 
• Passing down cultural traditions 

Studying these differences in parenting styles helps students better understand how cultures and families shape child rearing around the globe.