Ellen Galinsky, President of Families and Work Institute and author of “Mind in the Making,” has released a new book titled “The Breakthrough Years: A New Scientific Framework for Raising Thriving Teens.” After over a decade of research involving children aged 9–19, Galinsky proposes that the debate between strict and gentle parenting overlooks the effectiveness of “autonomy support.” This approach involves trusting children to solve problems independently while providing guidance and support.
Research on executive function (EF) skills in younger children shows that autonomy-supportive parenting helps develop crucial skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and reflection. For older children, research based on self-determination theory by Edward Deci, Richard Ryan, and Wendy Grolnick emphasises the importance of autonomy, competence, and connection. Grolnick’s studies show that providing structure in an autonomy-supportive manner leads to better motivation, competence, and academic performance in adolescents. This involves setting clear rules and limits, understanding disagreements, discussing conflicts, and involving children in problem-solving.
Overall, the key to effective parenting is not strict or gentle discipline but offering supportive structure that fosters children’s autonomy and skill development.
https://letgrow.org/strict-parenting-gentle-parenting-ellen-galinskys-autonomy-support-alternative
