“Let the child explore and be free from constraints”

A woman can not influence her unborn child directly by her thoughts or feelings, except by when they are accompanied by strong and prolonged emotional stress. The attitudes developed at this time are important, however, because they serve as the bases for maternal attitudes toward the child after he or she is born during the early, formative years of life. What is true of maternal attitudes is likewise true of paternal attitudes and to a lesser extent of the attitudes of siblings and other family members too.
Parent’s attitudes towards their children are influenced by their concept of the role of parenthood, some people romanticize parenthood, some view it realistically. Some view it favourably, others unfavourably. Their attitudes have emotional accomplishments ranging from joy to fear, anger and disgust. No two parents have had the same childhood experiences during pregnancy, and it is understandable that their attitudes should be different. Some of the factors responsible for variations in attitude however are universally operative.

• Desire to have children
• Physical state during pregnancy
• Emotional state during pregnancy
• Parental concepts
• Social class of parents
• Economic status of the family
• Age of parents
• Mother’s interests and aspirations
• Mass media

Parental Attitudes – Importance

Parental Attitudes have a strong impact not only on family relationships but also on the attitudes and behaviour of children. Most successful people come from homes where parental attitudes toward them were favourable and where a wholesome relationship existed between them and their parents. Such a relationship will produce happy, friendly children who are appealing to others, relatively free from anxieties and make constructive, interdependent members of the group.

Types of parental attitudes:
• Overprotectiveness
• Permissiveness
• Rejection
• Acceptance
• Domination
• Favouritism