From Baumrind to today—discover the four parenting styles studied by psychologists since the 1960s.

Every parent has a unique way of raising children—shaped by our personalities, our experiences, and often, the way we were raised. You may find yourself sounding just like your mom when you give a reminder, or repeating your dad’s rules without even realizing it. That’s because parenting styles are often passed down through generations, whether we mean to or not.

What’s important to know is that parenting styles aren’t fads or something dreamed up in a magazine. They come from decades of research in psychology. Starting with Diana Baumrind in the 1960s, and expanded by Maccoby & Martin in the 1980s, researchers studied patterns across families and found four main styles of parenting that have stood the test of time: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful.

Understanding your style isn’t about labeling yourself as “good” or “bad.” It’s about noticing your strengths, your challenges, and making small, intentional choices to support your child’s growth.

The Four Parenting Styles

Authoritative Parenting (The Balanced Approach)

• High warmth + high expectations
  
  
• Parents set clear boundaries but also listen and explain reasons behind rules
  
  
• Kids raised this way tend to be confident, responsible, and independent thinkers
  
  
• Strengths: Consistency, communication, balance
  
  
• Challenges: Takes patience and emotional energy
  
  

Authoritarian Parenting (The Strict Approach)

• Low warmth + high expectations
  
  
• Parents focus on obedience, rules, and respect for authority
  
  
• Children may be well-behaved but can also feel anxious or struggle with self-confidence
  
  
• Strengths: Strong structure, safety, respect for rules
  
  
• Challenges: May limit open communication and independence
  
  

Permissive Parenting (The Lenient Approach)

• High warmth + low expectations
  
  
• Parents are nurturing and supportive, but may avoid setting limits
  
  
• Children feel loved, but sometimes struggle with responsibility and self-control
  
  
• Strengths: Supportive, flexible, nurturing
  
  
• Challenges: Inconsistency, lack of structure
  
  

Neglectful/Uninvolved Parenting (The Disconnected Approach)

• Low warmth + low expectations
  
  
• Parents may be physically present but emotionally distant or unavailable
  
  
• Children often struggle with self-esteem, trust, or guidance
  
  
• Strengths: Can foster independence in some cases
  
  
• Challenges: Lack of emotional connection and support
  
  

Why It Matters

Most of us aren’t just one style. We might shift depending on stress, culture, or the situation. But learning about parenting styles helps you:

• Recognize the patterns you inherited from your own parents.
  
  
• Notice when you’re repeating behaviors that don’t feel right for your family.
  
  
• Celebrate your strengths while making gentle changes where you want to grow.
  
  

Parenting is not about perfection—it’s about awareness, reflection, and connection.

Next Steps

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing posts that dive deeper into each parenting style. Together, we’ll look at the strengths, the challenges, and small ways to create more balance for your child and family.

Reflection Question for Parents:
Take a moment today and ask yourself: Which style sounds most like me? And even more importantly—which style did I grow up with?

Recognizing the past is the first step toward shaping the future. 💛

-Ms. Paige