• Balanced Style- is considered optimal because there is a balance of separateness versus togetherness on cohesion and a balance of stability versus change on flexibility. Balanced style parenting is moderate to high on both closeness and flexibility. The area of Balanced parenting style is larger than any one of the other four styles, acknowledging the diversity of positive ways parents can raise children well. The Balanced parenting style is characterized by warm and nurturing parents who are supportive emotionally, responsive to their child(ren)’s needs, encouraging toward independence (with monitoring), consistent and fair in meeting out discipline, and who expect age-appropriate behavior.

• Uninvolved style- is very low in closeness between parents and child(ren) and very high in flexibility. The Uninvolved parenting style is characterized by low emotional connection, low responsiveness from parent to child, high independence of child from parent (parents are disconnected from child’s life), highly negotiable rules that are loosely enforced, and few demands made on the child.

• Permissive style- is very high in closeness between parents and child(ren) and also very high in flexibility. The Permissive parenting style is characterized by parents who are overly protective of their child(ren), very responsive to their child(ren)’s every need, more of a friend to their child(ren), lenient in discipline, and unlikely to place demands on their child(ren).

• Strict style- is very low in closeness between parents and child(ren) and also very low in flexibility. The Strict parenting style is characterized by strictly enforced rules, highly restricted child freedom, firm discipline, low responsiveness to child, and low emotional connection between parent and child.

• Overbearing style- is very high in closeness between parents and child(ren) and very high in flexibility. The Overbearing parenting style is characterized by overly protective parents who cater to the child’s every need and act more like a friend to the child while at the same time strictly enforcing a proliferation of rules with firm discipline.

https://app.prepare-enrich.com/pe/pdf/research/parenting_study.pdf

Which Parenting style best mirrors your practices? I definitely feel that I have a balanced approach, not because I am perfect, but because of the place I am in my life— thought?! Do you feel Parenting styles evolve, if so how/why/when and what do you feel to be your Parenting style?