Why the Best Parenting Style Isn't One Style at All, But Many

Helicopter parenting is about being very involved in your children's lives.

However, overzealous helicopter patenting is when parents interfere with teachers or extracurricular activities and demand that their children are treated in a certain way. The overzealous version can be kept in line by checking in with friends first before flattening everything in your path.

Authoritarian parenting assumes high standards for the child, but there is less responsiveness. Tiger parenting is very similar to this style.

This style is often used as the last resort. For example, when a child throws a tantrum or is in a poor mood.

The closeness and responsiveness of attachment parenting is part of building trust with our babies in the early stages.

This doesn't necessarily mean babywearing or co-sleeping, but these strategies can help in increasing responsiveness.

Permissive parenting is where there are only a few rules placed on the children. Instead, parents are highly responsive to the needs of the child.

A potential problem with this style is that parents don't require anything from the child, creating unrealistic expectations of how the world is. However, this style can be used occasionally for a treat.

Also known as lawnmower parenting, this parenting style refers to clearing all obstacles from the child's path.

Snowplow parenting is helpful to clear just enough for a child to manage the rest by themselves.

Lighthouse parenting is about creating stability. Parents allow life to be experienced but are always visible and willing to help.

For example, at bedtime, we talk about worries that cropped up in the day and chat about a manageable way to deal with them.