When Sonali came to meet her friend Sonia at her house, she saw that Sonia's son Ronit, who is only 10 years old, was doing all his work himself. He ordered all the stuff online without consulting his mother and also served Sonali well. Sonali liked Ronit's behavior very much. Sonia told her that we are raising Ronit with the help of 'passenger parenting'.

What is passenger parenting?

This is a style in which parents interfere very little in the child's life. In this, they give complete freedom to the child's decisions and activities. Just like a passenger only sits in a bus, but does not decide the direction, similarly, parents are with the vehicle of life, but hand over the responsibility of driving to the child, that is, they teach him the freedom to make decisions, learn from his experiences, and see life from his perspective.

Preferred by new parents

The passenger parenting style is becoming increasingly popular among new parents as it allows them to strike a balance between their career and parenting. In this style, parents allow the child to learn and gain experience at their own pace and guide only when needed. This makes the child self-reliant, and parents also get time to focus on their professional life. This parenting style is in line with the modern lifestyle.

Freedom for both

Passive parenting has many benefits, which help in the development of both the child and the parents. In this style, the child gets the freedom to learn from his own choices, decisions, and experiences, which increases confidence and self-reliance. When the limits are fewer, children discover and think new things, which helps in their development. They learn to solve problems on their own, and there is no pressure of perfection on them. This allows them to develop their interests without fear. It can be said that this parenting style gives the child a practical approach towards life and also maintains balance in family relationships.

Negative aspects

Everything has its limits, but in passenger parenting, children are given complete freedom. At times, even when needed, they are unable to get guidance from their parents, which makes it difficult for them to understand the difference between right and wrong, and they become directionless. Parents try to fulfill their role through gadgets, due to which the child creates an emotional distance from them. Also, being alone makes him feel lonely. Therefore, no matter which parenting style you adopt, play your role well.

If the child is the driver, then you become the map.

Dr. Prerna Sharma, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, Delhi, says, Passenger parenting sows the seeds of self-reliance in children. In such a situation, if passenger parenting is followed properly, then it can play an important role in shaping the child's future. It is important to understand that when the child is the driver, the parents should accompany him like a map and provide support. Also, always make him feel that even though he is taking his own decisions, the parents are always with him for advice, support, and protection. You should understand that parenting is a garden where the plant is given freedom to grow, but you have to take care of water, sunlight and shade from time to time, only then it flourishes.

PC Social media