Uninvolved parenting is a parenting style added by researchers to the three styles given by psychologist Diana Baumrind in 1960.
A neglectful or uninvolved parent is the one who is not responsive to the emotional needs and not demanding when it comes to expecting something from children. It can result in many psychological or behavioral problems. We know, you might be busy or not ready to take on parental responsibility.
But, it is better late than never. Here is the checklist to find out if you fall in the category of a neglectful parent or not. Moreover, it explains how using the Android or iPhone parental control app, you can make up for these deficiencies and become a better and smarter parent.
- DO YOU CARE FOR YOUR CHILD’S EXPECTATIONS?
When was the last time when you took your child for ice cream, a small picnic, or rewarded them for getting good grades? Or how many times in a month do you sit with your child, listen to their problems and give them warm hugs telling them you are always there for them?
Even if they don’t tell you, they need it quite often. If you are not showing them enough love and acting indifferently, they will miss a lot in the development journey. So, you are an uninvolved parent if you think the answer to the question asked above is ‘no’ or ‘very less’.
- DO YOU HAVE EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUR CHILD TO DO OR NOT DO SOMETHING?
Parents expect their kids to behave in the best ways they taught them. If you don’t, here is another check for you being an uninvolved parent.
I am not endorsing the idea that you should set very rigid and high expectations from your child. No, that is not a healthy parenting habit. But, the concerned parents would want their kids to be kind, active in school, good at some games, or something else. It is very natural and has a good attitude. For example, if your child comes home with their report card, how do you react? Do you ask them to show that to you, appreciate where they performed well, and discuss the problems? Here is where you lack.
- DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH JUST BY FULFILLING THEIR BASIC NEEDS?
It is the responsibility of parents to take care of the basic facilities of their childlike their education bills, their daily expenses, and food, etc. But is that enough to fulfill all the material needs?
If you are a parent who feels proud of providing their child a life full of luxuries but never gives them enough time, you have not done even half of it. You have to invest your emotions to develop a bond between you and your child. If you think that is not necessary as you have already provided them everything, here is another validation you are a neglectful parent.
- HAVE YOU BEEN TO THEIR PARENT-TEACHER MEETINGS OR SCHOOL EVENTS?
How many times did you visit their school to check on their performance? Well, this tells a lot about your parenting attitude. Children need a sense of belongingness particularly when they are in an outer group. They love to see support on their back.
Not just that, it tells them how much their life and activities matter to you. By not giving it the required attention, you are making them feel alone and less confident.
- DO YOU SUPERVISE THEIR ACTIVITIES TO CHECK THEY ARE NOT INVOLVED IN BAD ACTS?
This is again a crucial responsibility on the shoulders of parents. Not only to protect your children but also to save others from any bad or maybe delinquent behavior, you have to check on what they are involved in. If you don’t care about it, you have passed the last step of becoming an uninvolved parent.
No offense, but this parenting behavior does not result in any constructive personalities of children. We understand it might be work or something that is keeping you busy. You can improve on your parenting by using smarter ways.
For example, using an Android or iPhone parental control app like FamilyTime can help you stay connected to your child and monitor their activities without much effort. Check out the website for details or you can download this app from Play Store or App Store. Believe me, it is going to change your life.