PARENTING AS A DETERMINING FACTOR AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT BASED ON OBSERVATION FINDINGS

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze parenting styles, specifically permissive parenting, as one of the determining factors that influence the growth and development of early childhood. Parenting plays an important role in shaping children’s personalities, character, as well as the development of their social, emotional, cognitive, and language aspects. This research employed a field observation method using light interviews, direct observation, and documentation involving three families with diverse backgrounds. The focus of the study was directed toward four language aspects—phonology, vocabulary, syntax, and semantics—as well as key dimensions of permissive parenting, which include parents’ views on rules, disciplinary approaches, emotional relationships, children’s involvement in decision-making, and parents’ expectations for their children. The observation results show that the permissive parenting applied by the three parents provides children with extensive freedom to express opinions and make choices without strict boundaries. This is reflected in the high level of children’s ability in phonological aspects, such as pronouncing words correctly, identifying word sounds, and distinguishing similar word sounds. In terms of vocabulary, the children are able to recognize familiar words and, for the most part, can interpret new words quite well. In syntax, the children can construct simple sentences with correct structures and identify sentence elements, although some errors were still found. The semantic aspect indicates that the children can understand the meaning of sentences, although their contextual comprehension still needs to be guided more intensively.In addition to language development, the findings also reveal that permissive parenting affects children’s behavioral aspects. Granting freedom without clear boundaries and accompanied by minimal consistency in rules and consequences tends to result in children having low levels of discipline and a limited understanding of responsibility. However, open and warm communication patterns foster a close emotional relationship between parents and children. The children feel involved in family decision-making, although they are not yet fully guided to distinguish appropriate decisions from less appropriate ones. Parents’ expectations generally focus on giving children the freedom to develop according to their interests without firm guidance, which on the one hand can support independence and self-confidence but on the other hand may lead to excessive permissive behavior.These findings emphasize the importance of balance in parenting. A permissive parenting style that supports independence, courage, and open communication needs to be balanced with clear rule-setting, consistent discipline enforcement, and the provision of constructive guidance. This study is expected to serve as a practical reference for parents, early childhood teachers, and early childhood education institutions in designing learning strategies and mentoring patterns that emphasize the optimal and balanced development of all aspects of a child’s growth.