The different parenting styles influence a parents' attempts to control and socialize their children.

It is always a good idea to consistently check in with ourselves so as to be conscious about the ways we parent.

This article on parenting styles is not to advocate following a particular style, but rather to enable us to be 'conscious' and therefore informed within and around our own approach.

Parenting Styles Theory:

I believe it is useful to discuss the theories of different parenting styles so as to help raise the awareness of our own concept of parenting.


It is not any specific practice in parenting, such as setting rules or using timeouts, that is useful in predicting our children's wellbeing.

Rather, it is the broad overall pattern of our parenting, commonly referred to as our parenting style, which sets the pattern as a predictor of our children's security and future happiness.

Parenting Styles - Diana Baumrind

The four basic types of parenting styles, which were originally outlined and discussed by psychologist Diana Baumrind, are a good place to begin.

Each of these types of parenting reflects different patterns of parental values, practices, and behaviors, and a distinct balance of responsiveness and demandingness.

In Diana Baumrind's dimensions of parenting styles there are two important essentials: Are parents responsive or non responsive to the child? Are parents demanding or non-demanding of the child?

Responsiveness can be seen as the amount of warmth and support given by the parents.

Demandingness refers to the parents' willingness to set expectations for their children in terms of behaviour.

Parenting Styles -
Diana Baumrind's four prototypes:

Click on the headings of each of the following 4 styles to read the articles which discuss their differences.
Try to identify your own parenting style.

• Authoritative:

The parent is both responsive and demanding.

Uses reason and encourages give and take.

Recognizes, values and affirms the child's individual qualities while also setting standards for conduct.

• Permissive:

The parent is responsive but undemanding.

This style is also referred to as indulgent or non directive.

Is accepting and affirmative of the child but makes few demands for responsibility or conduct.

• Uninvolved:

The parent is unresponsive and undemanding.

This style is often toxic to the child through being both neglectful and rejecting to the child. Non-confrontational.

Usually psychologically unavailable to the child.

• Authoritarian:

The parent is demanding but not responsive.

Attempts to control to an absolute standard.

Values obedience and does not encourage give and take.

I invite you to explore these ideas and find where you fit.

Overprotective Parenting:

The media makes much today of a style of parenting which is seen as being overprotective of children, inhibiting their growth towards responsibilty and independence.

Read more about overprotective parenting as a style?

This parenting style is also known as over parenting

Hyper-parenting is also very much in the 'news'! Read this fascinating article about hyper-parenting where the writer talks about the 'professionalism of parenthood' in a culture of hyper-parenting and soaring expectations.

How about helicopter parenting styles?

Or, better still, what about being a Submarine Parent?

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Changes in Parenting Styles -

Here is a very light hearted but true look at the many changes that have taken place with parenting over the years!
Changes in Parenting Styles