Exploring the 12 Parenting Styles: Which One Fits Your Family?
Parenting styles can have a significant impact on the development and well-being of children. Each family is unique, and there are different parenting styles that one can adopt to suit their family’s dynamic and personality. Research has identified 12 parenting styles, and it is essential to understand these styles to determine which one is best for your family.
The 12 Parenting Styles
1. Authoritative
2. Authoritarian
3. Permissive
4. Neglectful
5. Helicopter
6. Attachment
7. Gentle
8. Slow parenting
9. Spiritual
10. Conscious
11. Positive
12. Unschooling
Authoritative
This parenting style is characterized by high levels of responsiveness and demands. Authoritative parents set clear rules and guidelines while encouraging independence and autonomy. They believe in open communication and discipline their children lovingly and with respect.
Authoritarian
Authoritarian parenting, on the other hand, is characterized by strict rules and high expectations. Parents with this style tend to be more controlling and less responsive to their children’s needs. They believe in discipline and obedience and tend to use harsh punishments.
Permissive
Permissive parenting is a style in which parents are nurturing and warm but set few or no rules. They believe in letting children make their decisions and are lenient with discipline. Children with permissive parents can lack self-control and struggle with authority figures.
Neglectful
Parents who adopt a neglectful style are uninvolved in their children’s lives. They provide minimal supervision, warmth, and attention. Children raised with neglectful parents can struggle with self-esteem and emotional regulation.
Helicopter
Helicopter parents are overly involved in their children’s lives, hovering over them and micromanaging every aspect. They are overly protective, insulating their children from disappointment or failure. Children raised with helicopter parents can struggle with decision-making and have a lack of self-confidence.
Attachment
Attachment parenting is a style that emphasizes the close relationship between parents and children. It involves responding to your child’s needs promptly, co-sleeping, baby-wearing, and breastfeeding for extended periods. Children raised with attachment parenting can develop healthy emotional attachments and feel secure in their environment.
Gentle
This parenting style involves approaching parenting with empathy, kindness, and respect. It emphasizes positive reinforcement and gentle guidance. Children raised with gentle parenting tend to develop strong self-esteem, confidence, and resilience.
Slow Parenting
Slow parenting is a style that emphasizes quality over quantity. It involves simplifying one’s life, slowing down, and focusing on building thoughtful relationships with children. Children raised with slow parenting tend to have strong emotional connections with their parents and excel in academics.
Spiritual
Spiritual parenting involves prioritizing spiritual values in parenting. It involves teaching children to be mindful, honour their inner being and to be at peace with the world around them. Children raised with spiritual parenting are known to behave with intention and have a stronger moral compass.
Conscious
Conscious parenting involves adopting mindfulness practices in parenting. It involves keeping a fulfilled relationship between parents and children and being aware of children’s emotional needs, behaviour and development. Conscious parenting is known to develop mindful behaviours and thriving lifestyles.
Positive
Positive parenting focuses on treating children with kindness and mutually satisfying relationships. It involves positive reinforcement and communication to understand and express the children’s needs. Positive parenting is known to develop children’s emotional intelligence and social skills.
Unschooling
Unschooling is a style in which children have complete sovereignty over their education. This style involves parents providing learning materials, opportunities, and resources as per the child’s intuition and interests without implementing a curriculum. Unschooling develops critical thinking and learning, and children learn naturally with self-exploration and reflection.
In conclusion
Every family benefits from adopting different parenting styles. You can choose a style that matches your family’s values, beliefs, and personality. Adopting an effective parenting style is essential to strengthen the emotional bond and ensure positive child development.
