4 Main Types of Parenting
Parenting styles influence everything about the family structure. They can impact child development, the relationships parents have with their children, the relationships children have with peers and others, and the adult relationships they’ll one day form.
Understanding the different types of parenting skills and styles can help you navigate the complexity of raising children. It can also help you adapt your approach to suit your children’s and the family’s needs.
1. Authoritative parenting
High responsiveness and high demands on children best characterize the authoritative parenting style. Authoritative parents are very clear in their expectations and rules for their children, but they’re also very quick to show warmth, support, and love. Research suggests authoritative-style parenting is linked to the most favorable child development outcomes, including academic success and overall mental well-being.
Characteristics of authoritative parenting include:
- High expectations for behavior
- High demands for performance
- Clear, consistent, communicated rules
- Promotion of self-discipline
- Open communication and active listening
- Encourage independence
- Warm and supportive environment
Example of authoritative parenting
An authoritative parent would have a known, set curfew for their teen child. It would be non-negotiable at the moment — meaning a child would have to honor their set curfew — but the parent would be willing to calmly explain their reasoning and be open to listening to a child’s request to adjust the curfew time based on the child’s level of maturity and responsibility.
“Understanding the different styles of parenting helps to guide new parents with what will be best for their lives and children. The authoritative parent works to find the balance between discipline and compromise. When parents are active in discussing the logic behind the boundaries put forth and why consequences are put forth, it allows children to understand personal responsibility and autonomy as they grow and mature.”
Impact of authoritative parenting
Children who grow up with authoritative parents tend to be obedient but happy. Thanks to the authoritative parenting style, they are usually competent students and successful in school. They tend to have healthy social skills and self-regulation and generally develop high self-esteem and a good sense of self-worth.
2. Authoritarian parenting
Authoritarian parenting is defined by high demands and low responsiveness. Authoritarian parents often enforce strict rules and have very high expectations of their children. Parents with this style demand obedience, often without offering much warmth or feedback, focusing instead on discipline over dialogue.
Characteristics of authoritarian parenting include:
- Stringent rules
- Inflexible
- Expect obedience with no discussion
- Show little warmth or nurturing
- Demand compliance and high-performance
- Heavy-handed discipline methods
Example of authoritarian parenting
An authoritarian parent may demand perfect grades and strictly enforce high expectations. Children who fail to meet these standards may face severe punishment, typically without consideration for extenuating circumstances or an opportunity for discussion. For example, if a child does poorly on a test, they may restrict leisure activities. This approach offers minimal emotional support or understanding, focusing more on compliance than nurturing.
Impact of authoritarian parenting
Authoritarian parents have a significant impact on their children. While these children often exhibit obedience and academic proficiency, they typically face challenges with self-esteem and social skills. Moreover, they are prone to experiencing elevated levels of stress and anxiety.
“While authoritarian parenting may be helpful for certain situations, it can create some unhealthy behaviors in children. Children raised in a strictly authoritarian household often struggle with expressing themselves, have emotional dysregulation, and struggle in social settings, to name a few. There may be times when strictness and one way communication is necessary, but a constant stream of it can be harmful for the child.”
3. Permissive parenting
Permissive parenting features a relaxed approach. Parents have low demands yet remain highly responsive to their children’s needs. These parents often adopt a lenient attitude, aiming to minimize confrontation and foster an open, communicative environment. Permissive parents typically act more like friends than authority figures, emphasizing a supportive rather than disciplinary role in their children’s lives.
Characteristics of permissive parenting include:
- Very few rules
- Minimal expectations
- Discipline isn’t enforced
- Highly nurturing and communicative
- Emphasis on the child’s freedom and sense of autonomy
- Is responsive to the child’s needs and wants
Example of permissive parenting
If a child forgets to do their homework, a permissive parent might respond with understanding rather than consequences. They might say, “It’s okay, just try to remember next time,” and help them complete the assignment without addressing the need for better habits. A permissive household often focuses on empathy and support over establishing rules or expectations for behavior.
Impact of permissive parenting
Without consistent guidelines, children might struggle with self-discipline and authority, potentially facing issues with behavior and academic performance. This parenting style can leave children ill-prepared to navigate structured settings and make responsible decisions, ultimately affecting their long-term growth and success.
4. Uninvolved parenting
Uninvolved parenting is as hands-off as it gets. Characterized by minimal responsiveness and negligible demands, parents adopting this style typically provide very little guidance, nurturing, or attention, leaving children to navigate much of their upbringing on their own.
In households with uninvolved parenting, the parent may often be absent, showing little interest in the child’s daily experiences. They seldom inquire about the child’s schoolwork, friends, or social activities and are typically absent from games and practices. Their involvement is limited to providing just the essentials needed for survival, without active participation in the child’s emotional or social development.
Characteristics of uninvolved parenting include:
- Lack of consistent rules
- Little to no expectations
- Minimal communication
- Showing little interest
- Being emotionally detached
- Lacking warmth
- Basic needs are met, but not much beyond is given
Example of uninvolved parenting
If a child is struggling with a particular subject in school and expresses their difficulty, an uninvolved parent might simply acknowledge the statement without offering support or solutions. For instance, they might respond with a nonchalant, ‘Okay, try to figure it out,’ showing no engagement in the child’s academic challenges or interest in helping them seek tutoring or additional resources.
Impact of uninvolved parenting
Uninvolved parenting typically results in children being fearful and anxious. Some children develop abandonment issues as a result of growing up with uninvolved parents. They can be emotionally withdrawn, perform poorly in school, commonly have low self-esteem, and struggle with social competence now and in the future.
