Before checking out this post, take this quick quiz to discover which parenting style (s) you most closely fit. This isn’t scientific, it’s just for fun.
In 1966, Diana Baumrind published a paper entitled, “Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior”, where she introduced the concept of how different parenting styles could bring about differing behaviors in children. “Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior.” American Psychological Association, 1966, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1967-05780-001. These three styles were called Permissive, Authoritarian, and Authoritative. Later a fourth, called Neglective/Uninvolved was introduced. In understanding differing parent styles, we would like to give a brief outline of each.
First, take our brief quiz above, “What’s Your Parenting Style”, to determine your own parenting style. Just take it with a grain of salt. 😉 No parent falls into any one category across all situations. We all know that when we feel refreshed and in a good mood, we tend to bring our best to our parenting and vice versa. For most of us, our goal is improvement, not perfection.
Understanding Different Parent Styles
Permissive
The Permissive Parent is characterized by the following:
• Lack of rules and boundaries
• Overindulgence in the child’s needs and wants
• Fostering independence through freedom of choice
• Allowing for open communication between parent and child
• Rarely enforces discipline or consequences
• Little to no direct guidance
• Creative problem-solving
• Positive reinforcement
• Rarely sets limits or expectations for the child
• Overprotection of the child’s feelings
What is a permissive parent?
The Permissive Parenting style is one that gives a child the freedom to explore and make choices within perimeters set by the parents. This parenting style is focused on nurturing the relationship between parent and child while avoiding confrontation or discipline.
While permissive parenting allows children to have a lot of freedom, it also comes with its own set of drawbacks.
A permissive parent may offer too much leniency when setting expectations and boundaries for their child, which can negatively affect the child’s behavior and limit their ability to learn self-discipline. Permissive parenting can lead to children growing up without respect for the rules or responsibility for their own actions.
Additionally, permissive parenting can lead to high levels of anxiety and stress in children since they may not be able to rely on consistent expectations from their parents.
Authoritative
The Authoritative Parent is characterized by these traits:
• Clear rules and expectations with flexibility
• Open communication and natural consequences
• Consistent discipline and boundaries
• Balanced control for parent and child
• Respectful towards the child’s opinion
• Empathetic listening skills
• Fostering independence through problem-solving
• Positive reinforcement and reward systems
• Encouragement of self-regulation in decision making
• Firm but fair discipline with logical consequences.
What is an authoritative parent?
Authoritative parents are those who have both firm and flexible parenting styles. They provide clear guidance and expectations while creating an environment that allows children to learn how to make decisions on their own. Authoritative parents also allow for open communication between parent and child, providing an opportunity for negotiation as needed. This style of parenting helps foster independence in the child while still providing a sense of security and structure.
Authoritative parents also provide consistent discipline and boundaries, but with a balanced approach that allows for understanding and respect. They use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior, logic-based consequences when needed, and an open dialogue that encourages self-regulation in decision-making.
Neglectful/Uninvolved
Following are some of the characteristics of The Neglectful/Uninvolved Parent:
• Uninvolved or absent parenting
• No boundaries, structure, or guidance
• Ignoring the child’s needs for nurturance and attention
• Poor communication skills between parent and child
• Little to no discipline or consequences
• Lack of respect for the child’s opinion
• Overlooking the child’s developmental needs
• Indifference to problem-solving and decision making
• Lack of interest in social or emotional development
• Unwillingness to provide support.
A neglectful parent is one who fails to provide their children with the necessary attention, guidance and nurturing they require. Neglectful parents often do not set boundaries or provide structure for their children, resulting in a lack of direction in the child’s life. Neglectful parenting can lead to unhappiness and resentment in the child, as well as an increased risk for problem behaviors later on.
Neglectful parents also tend to have poor communication skills with their children, often ignoring their needs or concerns. They provide little to no discipline and may be indifferent to the child’s developmental and emotional needs. This type of parenting can cause long-term damage to the child’s social and emotional development, as well as lead to a lack of self-esteem.
It is important for parents to provide a healthy balance of structure, discipline, and nurturing in order to create an environment that allows children to thrive.
Authoritarian
And lastly, these are the traits of The Authoritarian Parent:
• Parent-driven parenting style
• Highly structured environment with strict rules and punishment
• Little to no negotiation or discussion of expectations
• No creative problem-solving allowed
• Unwillingness to consider the child’s opinion or feelings
• Rarely provides positive reinforcement
• One-way communication with little consideration for social-emotional needs
• Enforces rigid rules and punishment without exceptions
• Limited freedom of choice and independence
• Unwillingness to provide guidance or support.
An authoritarian parent is one who has a very strict and disciplined parenting style. This type of parent focuses heavily on structure and rules, with little to no negotiation or discussion of expectations. There is usually no creative problem-solving allowed, as the parent imposes their own decisions without considering the child’s opinion or feelings.
The authoritarian parent rarely provides positive reinforcement and has a one-way communication style, with little consideration for the child’s social or emotional needs. Rules are enforced without exceptions and children are given limited freedom of choice and independence. This type of parenting can be damaging to the child’s development as it fails to provide guidance or support.
Understanding More Recent Parenting Styles
As with everything, trends of thought change and expand as our society grows. Current thinking may still include these general categories of types of parenting styles, while new ones have been added as our understanding of different parenting styles grows and changes. In an article by Barbara Brody, entitled “What Are the Different Parenting Styles?” in WebMD online, includes the four parenting styles outlined in this article and throws in a few more. Brody, Barbara. “What Are the Different Parenting Styles?” WebMD, WebMD, 25 Feb. 2021. Understood in the current vernacular, here are the new some new ones: Helicopter Parenting, Free-Range Parenting, and Attachment Parenting as we increase our understanding of different parenting styles and sub-groups.
Helicopter Parenting
Helicopter parenting is a term used to describe parents who are highly involved in their child’s activities and decisions. These parents often ‘hover’ over their children, making sure they are safe and secure while also being heavily involved in every aspect of the child’s life. Generally, helicopter parents are overprotective and tend to micromanage their child’s life, which can lead to the child feeling smothered. While this parenting style does have its benefits in terms of safety, it can also be detrimental if taken too far as it can stunt a child’s independence and prevent them from learning life skills helicopter parents have a very close relationship with their children and can be both positive and negative.
Free-Range Parenting
Free-range parenting is a style of parenting that emphasizes the importance of independence and autonomy in children, allowing them to explore their environment without constant adult supervision. This type of parenting goes against the grain of ‘helicopter’ parenting, which involves hovering over children to ensure their safety and well-being. Free-range parenting advocates for allowing children more independence and freedom, while still providing them with guidance and support when needed. This style encourages children to take risks, solve problems on their own, become independent thinkers, and make decisions for themselves.
Attachment Parenting
Attachment parenting is an approach to child-rearing that emphasizes strong maternal or paternal bonds between parents and their children. Attachment parenting focuses on providing a secure environment, with consistent parental attention, as well as responding quickly to a child’s needs. It encourages physical closeness such as breastfeeding and co-sleeping and is founded on the belief that responding promptly to a baby’s needs will strengthen the bond between parent and child. This style of parenting has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the success that many parents have experienced with this method.
Overall, regardless of which parenting style you choose, it’s important to remember that each child is different and has their own individual needs. Each family should decide what works best for them, and no one should be judged for their parenting style. All parents want what’s best for their children, so it is important to find a style of parenting that works well for both the parent and the child. With patience, understanding, communication, and unconditional love all families can find a balance that works for them.
In 1966, Diana Baumrind published a paper entitled, “Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior”, where she introduced the concept of how different parenting styles could bring about differing behaviors in children. “Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior.” American Psychological Association, 1966, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1967-05780-001. These three styles were called Permissive, Authoritarian, and Authoritative. Later a fourth, called Neglective/Uninvolved was introduced. In understanding differing parent styles, we would like to give a brief outline of each. Just for fun, we have created a non-scientific quiz called, “What Kind of Parent Are you”, which is at the end of this article to determine your own parenting style. Take it with a grain of salt. 😉
Different Parent Styles in a Nutshell
Permissive
The Permissive Parent is characterized by the following:
• Lack of rules and boundaries
• Overindulgence in the child’s needs and wants
• Fostering independence through freedom of choice
• Allowing for open communication between parent and child
• Rarely enforces discipline or consequences
• Little to no direct guidance
• Creative problem-solving
• Positive reinforcement
• Rarely sets limits or expectations for the child
• Overprotection of the child’s feelings
What is a permissive parent?
The Permissive Parenting style is one that gives a child the freedom to explore and make choices within perimeters set by the parents. This parenting style is focused on nurturing the relationship between parent and child while avoiding confrontation or discipline. While permissive parenting allows children to have a lot of freedom, it also comes with its own set of drawbacks. A permissive parent may offer too much leniency when setting expectations and boundaries for their child, which can negatively affect the child’s behavior and limit their ability to learn self-discipline. Permissive parenting can lead to children growing up without respect for the rules or responsibility for their own actions. Additionally, permissive parenting can lead to high levels of anxiety and stress in children since they may not be able to rely on consistent expectations from their parents.
Authoritative
The Authoritative Parent is characterized by these traits:
• Clear rules and expectations with flexibility
• Open communication and natural consequences
• Consistent discipline and boundaries
• Balanced control for parent and child
• Respectful towards the child’s opinion
• Empathetic listening skills
• Fostering independence through problem-solving
• Positive reinforcement and reward systems
• Encouragement of self-regulation in decision making
• Firm but fair discipline with logical consequences.
What is an authoritative parent?
Authoritative parents are those who have both firm and flexible parenting styles. They provide clear guidance and expectations while creating an environment that allows children to learn how to make decisions on their own. Authoritative parents also allow for open communication between parent and child, providing an opportunity for negotiation as needed. This style of parenting helps foster independence in the child while still providing a sense of security and structure. Authoritative parents also provide consistent discipline and boundaries, but with a balanced approach that allows for understanding and respect. They use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior, logic-based consequences when needed, and an open dialogue that encourages self-regulation in decision-making.
Neglectful/Uninvolved
Following are some of the characteristics of The Neglectful/Uninvolved Parent:
• Uninvolved or absent parenting
• No boundaries, structure, or guidance
• Ignoring the child’s needs for nurturance and attention
• Poor communication skills between parent and child
• Little to no discipline or consequences
• Lack of respect for the child’s opinion
• Overlooking the child’s developmental needs
• Indifference to problem-solving and decision making
• Lack of interest in social or emotional development
• Unwillingness to provide support.
A neglectful parent is one who fails to provide their children with the necessary attention, guidance and nurturing they require. Neglectful parents often do not set boundaries or provide structure for their children, resulting in a lack of direction in the child’s life. Neglectful parenting can lead to unhappiness and resentment in the child, as well as an increased risk for problem behaviors later on.
Authoritarian
And lastly, these are the traits of The Authoritarian Parent:
• Parent-driven parenting style
• Highly structured environment with strict rules and punishment
• Little to no negotiation or discussion of expectations
• No creative problem-solving allowed
• Unwillingness to consider the child’s opinion or feelings
• Rarely provides positive reinforcement
• One-way communication with little consideration for social-emotional needs
• Enforces rigid rules and punishment without exceptions
• Limited freedom of choice and independence
• Unwillingness to provide guidance or support.
Understanding More Recent Parenting Styles
As with everything, trends of thought change and expand as our society grows. Current thinking may still include these general categories of types of parenting styles, while new ones have been added as our understanding of different parenting styles grows and changes. In an article by Barbara Brody, entitled “What Are the Different Parenting Styles?” in WebMD online, includes the four parenting styles outlined in this article and throws in a few more. Brody, Barbara. “What Are the Different Parenting Styles?” WebMD, WebMD, 25 Feb. 2021. Understood in the current vernacular, here are the new some new ones: Helicopter Parenting, Free-Range Parenting, and Attachment Parenting as we increase our understanding of different parenting styles and sub-groups.
Helicopter Parenting
Helicopter parenting is a term used to describe parents who are highly involved in their child’s activities and decisions. These parents often ‘hover’ over their children, making sure they are safe and secure while also being heavily involved in every aspect of the child’s life. Generally, helicopter parents are overprotective and tend to micromanage their child’s life, which can lead to the child feeling smothered. While this parenting style does have its benefits in terms of safety, it can also be detrimental if taken too far as it can stunt a child’s independence and prevent them from learning life skills helicopter parents have a very close relationship with their children and can be both positive and negative.
Free-Range Parenting
Free-range parenting is a style of parenting that emphasizes the importance of independence and autonomy in children, allowing them to explore their environment without constant adult supervision. This type of parenting goes against the grain of ‘helicopter’ parenting, which involves hovering over children to ensure their safety and well-being. Free-range parenting advocates for allowing children more independence and freedom, while still providing them with guidance and support when needed. This style encourages children to take risks, solve problems on their own, become independent thinkers, and make decisions for themselves.
Attachment Parenting
Attachment parenting is an approach to child-rearing that emphasizes strong maternal or paternal bonds between parents and their children. Attachment parenting focuses on providing a secure environment, with consistent parental attention, as well as responding quickly to a child’s needs. It encourages physical closeness such as breastfeeding and co-sleeping and is founded on the belief that responding promptly to a baby’s needs will strengthen the bond between parent and child. This style of parenting has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the success that many parents have experienced with this method.
Overall, regardless of which parenting style you choose, it’s important to remember that each child is different and has their own individual needs. Each family should decide what works best for them, and no one should be judged for their parenting style. All parents want what’s best for their children, so it is important to find a style of parenting that works well for both the parent and the child. With patience, understanding, communication, and unconditional love all families can find a balance that works for them.
