The 4 Different Types of Parenting Styles - Are you Permissive, Authoritative, Neglectful or Authoritarian?

Dearest readers,

Do you recall the whirlwind of advice and parenting handbooks that surrounded you as a first-time parent? The journey is undoubtedly a rollercoaster of chaotic love, and no manual can fully prepare you for the unique adventure each child brings into your life. You are also probably laughing your head off right now thinking back about those “helpful handbooks”.

However, developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind, along with Stanford researchers Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin, have identified four distinct parenting styles. Let's explore these styles to help you understand your approach and consider adjustments for even more effective parenting.

1. Permissive Parenting

Key Traits:

• Highly responsive, low demands

• Emphasizes open communication and often allows children to make decisions independently

• Rules and expectations may be lax or infrequently enforced

• Prioritizes children's happiness, sometimes at the expense of the parent's own well-being

Permissive parents aim for a friendly relationship with their children, often avoiding conflicts and providing limited guidance.

2. Authoritative Parenting

Key Traits:

• Highly responsive, high demands

• Establishes clear rules, boundaries, and expectations while practicing understanding

• Values open communication, actively listening to and considering children's thoughts and feelings

• Encourages learning from mistakes and utilizes these opportunities for reflection

Authoritative parents strike a balance between support and discipline, fostering self-discipline and self-awareness in their children.

3. Neglectful Parenting

Key Traits:

• Low responsiveness, low to no demands

• Permits children to navigate largely independently, often due to parental disengagement or overwhelm

• Offers little nurturing and guidance, and is rarely present

• May struggle with self-esteem issues and forming close relationships

Neglectful parenting involves minimal involvement, sometimes unintentionally, as parents grapple with deep inner personal challenges.

4. Authoritarian Parenting

Key Traits:

• Low responsiveness, very high demands

• Imposes strict rules with minimal consideration for a child's feelings or social and behavioral needs

• Frequently relies on "because I said so" as a response to questions about rules

• Communication primarily flows from parent to child, resembling a one-way street

Authoritarian parents employ strict discipline, often labeled as "tough love," seeking control with limited space for the child's input.

Dear readers, these categories offer insight, but it's essential not to feel confined to one. Parenting styles can adapt to situations, and some may be inherited through generations. Discover the art of reparenting yourself, unlocking the hidden goodness within yourself. Embrace the evolving journey of parenthood and share your thoughts on parenting styles on our Instagram or chat with me in a safe space on a Discovery Call.

Have an amazing week everybody!

With warmth and mindfulness,

Michelle Lim | Founder of The MindFull Parent | Reparenting Life Coach

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