A Parenting Style That Doesn’t Help Children Learn Better Has Been Identified

What Did the Study Show?

The study was conducted by the National Centre for Social Research in the UK in collaboration with a London-based charity. Around 6,000 children and their parents participated in the research.

The study lasted 10 years, covering the period from age 2 to 11 (until the end of primary school), and included:

• Surveys of parents;

• Assessments by nursery workers and schoolteachers;

• Analysis of children's performance in reading, writing, and mathematics.

What Works: Firm Yet Warm Parenting

Results showed that children whose parents enforced clear rules and firm boundaries achieved better academic results by the 6th grade. Importantly, this strictness was accompanied by emotional support and warmth from parents.

This approach is often referred to as "authoritative authoritarian" parenting — meaning that while parents maintain control, they also stay connected with the child emotionally.

Even raising one’s voice or applying strict discipline, if done within a loving and supportive environment, was found to have positive effects on children.

What Doesn’t Work: Excessive Softness

On the other hand, parents who applied a very lenient, overly democratic style — avoiding rules, limits, or even raising their voice — were found to negatively affect children's academic performance.

According to the study authors, the absence of boundaries can lead to:

• Short attention span;

• Inability to focus on a single task;

• Disruptive or disorganized behavior.

Professor Vivienne Hill, a psychologist from the Institute of Education at University College London, agrees with this interpretation:

“In a classroom with 30 students, a teacher doesn’t have time to negotiate softly with each child — children must learn to follow rules,” she noted.

Boundaries Are Not the Enemy — They Help

Particularly between the ages of 5 and 7, setting limits and structure was found to be especially beneficial. This is a critical period when children begin developing self-regulation skills, which are foundational for future academic success.

Conclusion

This research challenges the common belief that strict parenting is inherently harmful.
A parenting style that combines clear rules, reasonable boundaries, and emotional warmth is key to fostering academic achievement.

Meanwhile, excessive permissiveness, combined with a lack of parental authority, can undermine children's motivation to learn and their ability to adapt to school structure and discipline.