Parental Feeding Style: Is It Important?

We talk so much about the obesity epidemic, and the soaring rates of overweight children these days.

But, did you know that your parenting style impacts your child's relationship with food, both now and in the future?

It's not difficult to imagine this to be the case -- think about the sheer amount of feeding interactions you have with your children throughout the course of their lives.

My little girl is now 1-year-old, and sometimes I feel like all we ever do is prepare food, eat food, and clean up said food from the floor! According to Jill Castle, paediatric dietitian:

Throughout an 18 year childhood, a parent will feed their child over 28,000 times.

That's an amazing statistic!

In her article, Jill goes on to discuss the four parenting styles. Here's a short overview:

#1 Authoritative
This style promotes independent thinking and self-regulation in how much to eat, although the parent determines what is eaten, when and where, etc. It's thought that this style of feeding fosters the ability to self regulate intake, and to feel secure about food and eating. Children also tend to be leaner.

#2 Authoritarian
Where the parent makes the decisions about what, and how much will be eaten. Think the "clean your plate club". It's thought that both underweight and overweight problems are associated with this style.

#3 Permissive
This is the type of parent who tries to set limits, but ultimately gives in after some whining from the child. It's thought that this style of feeding may lead to children being overweight.

#4 Neglectful
This is where the parent is irregular in food planning and preparation, failing to stock cupboards, etc. It's thought that this style of feeding may lead children to feel insecure about food, and become overly focused on food.

No doubt this is an extremely sensitive issue. But, do you think it's now important that parents are provided with guidance on how, as well as what, to feed their children? Do you think your parental feeding style is affecting your child?

Image source: Lenscap

For further information see, "Child Feeding Behaviours and Child Weight".

View the original article here