Parent-child communication and its perceived effects on the young child's developing self-concept

Abstract

The modern family is becoming stretched, due to the fast pace of living, stres, and time constraints that can impact on the quality of parent-child interactions. (Mustard & McCain:39,Bornstein,n.d.). In addition, the traditional autocratic parenting style is being challenged due to society’s move towards a more democratic style of parenting. As parents only want the best for their children, this shift has caused further stress and confusion as their parenting role and to what is expected by society. As a consequence of society’s high expectations, parents “feel concerned and often their worry is passed on to the children� who is turn may “ have very high expectations of themselves and become extremely tense and frightened of failure� (Roe,1999:20).