What’s Your Parenting Style?
Everyone goes about parenting in their own way, and it may even evolve as your kids get older. Use these descriptions to identify and learn more about your parenting style.
Not sure which one you use? Click here to take a parenting style quiz!
Authoritative
The authoritative parenting style, or as we call it, heart-to-heart, can be best described as “demanding and responsive.” Employing a child-centered approach, authoritative parents encourage their teen’s independence while at the same time teaching them responsibility.
Authoritative parents show high levels of warmth, encourage frequent and honest two-way communication, exercise control and fair discipline and set clear boundaries.
See What Authoritative Parenting Looks Like
Authoritarian
Sometimes referred to as strict parenting, the authoritarian parenting style can be best described as “demanding, but unresponsive.” Obedience-oriented, authoritarian parents have high expectations for their children and set very strict rules that they believe their children should accept – without question.
This parenting style is often characterized by harsh, punitive parenting methods. Teens raised with the authoritarian parenting style are twice as likely to participate in heavy drinking.
See What Authoritarian Parenting Looks Like
Permissive
Sometimes referred to as indulgent or lenient parenting, the permissive parenting style can be best described as “responsive, but undemanding.” Utilizing a friend-first approach, permissive parents avoid confrontations, allow immature behavior, and make few, if any, demands upon their children.
This parenting style is often characterized by low expectations and little discipline. Teens raised with permissive parenting styles are three times more likely to participate in heavy drinking.
See What Permissive Parenting Looks Like
Uninvolved
Sometimes referred to as neglectful, detached, or hands-off parenting, the uninvolved parenting style can be best described as “unresponsive and undemanding.” Uninvolved parents have little emotional involvement with their children. In fact, aside from providing basic needs like food and shelter, uninvolved parents are mostly absent from their children’s lives.
This parenting style is characterized by an overall lack of love and supervision. Teens raised by uninvolved parents are four times more likely to participate in heavy drinking.
See What Uninvolved Parenting Looks Like
