Different Parenting Styles From Around The World

1. Authoritative parenting

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Authoritative parenting has the clue in the title! This style of parenting prioritizes the firm, consistent enforcement of rules. Children are well disciplined by laying out explicit boundaries and expectations. However, it's not all about rules! Parents also ensure they meet their children with warmth and emotional support, as they understand this balance is essential for healthy, happy children. Research shows that this style is most commonly used by European-American parents.

2. Permissive parenting

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Most common in Western cultures, this style essentially adopts an outlook that rejects structure, discipline, and control. Parents who apply this believe that they should prioritize love, affection and warmth above setting boundaries. In fact, they let their children roam freely without any specific rules. They don't hold their children to high expectations.

3. Authoritarian parenting

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Popular in Asia, this style differs significantly to the first one, despite having similar names. With authoritarian parenting, the focus is solely around authority and power from the parents. They expect obedience from their children always. There's very little room for negotiation, the strict rules are rigid and enforced without needing explanation.

4. Attachment parenting

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Attachment parenting was popularized in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the parents nurturing a strong emotional bond with their children. These parents have the goal of creating a secure attachment style in their kids, which research has shown to improve social skills, self-esteem, and emotional regulation. They do this by breastfeeding on demand, being sensitive to their needs and providing gentle guidance.

5. Tiger parenting

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Tiger parenting is associated with some East Asian cultures. These parents prioritize academic success, being heavily involved in their studies and pushing for extra-curricular education. Tiger parents are also extremely strict, they enforce demanding rules with high expectations. They will make most of the decisions for their children, especially when it comes to education.

6. Helicopter parenting

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Helicopter parenting is probably a term that you've heard of. Mostly adopted in Western cultures, these parents will hover over their children. They essentially micromanage their kids movements by constantly involving themselves in their children's lives. They're overprotective, take control and prioritize supervision. These kids can sometimes grow up feeling protected and secure, whilst others become anxious and struggle with decision making.

7. Free-range parenting

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This is another style of parenting that people from Western cultures tend to gravitate the most towards. The aim here is to allow children independence, letting them explore the world freely and learn from their own experiences. Parents encourage their children to be self-reliant, but still make sure to enforce boundaries where needed. This is done by allowing children to make their own decisions and allowing natural consequences.

8. Indigenous communal parenting

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Indigenous communal parenting is, hence the name, practiced in various indigenous communities. It's seen as a traditional style of parenting and involves the whole community as there's a shared responsibility. Everybody has involvement in the education, guidance and care of the children within the community. Usually, traditional teachings such as cultural knowledge, values, and traditions are passed down to the children.

9. Dolphin parenting

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Rising in popularity in China, the dolphin parenting style places an emphasis on balance and empathy. These parents believe in setting an example, ensuring they are behaving in a way that they want their child to mirror. There are firm boundaries, but these can be flexible within reason. The children are encouraged to grow into their creativity and independence.

10. Slow parenting

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In a world where everything is fast-paced and full of distractions, this parenting style prioritises slowing down and embracing quality time with your children. This outlook seems to be most used in Scandinavian countries, where they make sure there's plenty of room in their calendars for unstructured time spent with their family. This parenting style spends a lot of time in nature and places an emphasis on quality over quantity.

11. Cooperative parenting

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Adopted in different parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand, cooperative parenting quite literally puts emphasis on the cooperation between both parents. Open, honest communication is encouraged, so that parents can share their concerns, goals and information regarding their children freely. These parents believe that collaboration is key.

12. Gender-neutral parenting

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This relatively new style is used mainly in Western countries. Parents encourage their children to play and express themselves however they choose, regardless of gender norms. They won't push certain clothing, toys or interests on their child based on gender and will avoid phrases like "that's girly". Instead, they would say "that's beautiful", for example.

13. Positive parenting

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Positive parenting has become popular all over the globe. Scandinavian countries are one of the ones who have become particularly fond of this style. There's a focus placed on the parents building a positive relationship with their children. Rather than punishing their child for their wrongs, they prioritise praise and encouragement for good behaviour.

14. Gentle parenting

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Gentle parenting is mainly used in England and America. These parents believe that the best way to teach their children is through loving, supporting and respecting them. They will try to understand and empathise with their child when they act in a certain way, encouraging them to make their own choices and mistakes. These parents respect that children can't always control their emotions.

15. Conscious parenting

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The United States, Canada and The United Kingdom practice this style of parenting more when compared to other countries. This approach to raising children is done in a more mindful way, with a focus on consciously making emotionally intelligent decisions. Parents believe that they set an example for their children and are mindful of how they speak to their children at all times. They explain with reason, wanting their children to understand why they are enforcing certain rules.

16. Natural parenting

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Natural parenting has become popular all over the world! To mention a few countries where parents practice this, it's done in Australia, Scandinavia and Africa. This adopts an outlook where children should be in harmony with nature. Parents of this style give their children freedom to explore and respect the outdoors. They also focus on close physical contact between parent and child.

17. Unconditional parenting

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This style of parenting puts love at the heart of everything they do. They believe in fully embracing and meeting their children where they are, accepting and loving them regardless of how they behave. They will respect their children's opinions and feelings, and will always make sure that they're coming from a place of understanding, empathy and respect. It's a fairly new outlook but is catching on worldwide.

18. Cultural parenting

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Religious cultures and indigenous cultures adopt this style of parenting more in relation to others. Children are raised through an emphasized importance for their culture, prioritizing the values and beliefs. Parents want their children to grow with a sense of belonging in their culture, following the lead of their parents. They believe their culture shapes their identity.

19. Spiritual parenting

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Parents with strong spiritual beliefs usually adopt this parenting approach. The philosophy focuses on raising children through the education of spirituality. The beliefs and values must be consistent with their spiritual beliefs. The parents want their children to feel a connection to something greater than themselves. This is done by talking about and modelling spirituality, along with encouraging the children to engage in spiritual practice such as prayer.

20. Practical parenting

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Practical parenting focuses the decisions and discipline around practicality and common sense. These parents will make sure that they communicate with their children well, expressing boundaries in a respectful way. They will listen to their children, allowing them to speak freely. The children will know exactly what is expected of them, there are clearly laid boundaries and rules. This parenting style has been adopted worldwide.

21. Strict parenting

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Studies have found that strict parenting is used all over, but is more common in parts of Asia. Some examples include China, India, Malaysia and Thailand. There's little wiggle room with this parenting style, rules and expectations are strict and there's not much compromise. The parents make it clear that they expect obedience and conformity from their children and believe in punishment when this behaviour isn't met.

22. Relaxed parenting

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Scandinavian countries, Western Europe and North America are the key areas where this style seems to have been adopted. Relaxed parenting is based on the belief that children should have freedom and flexibility. There are not many rules set and they believe in positive reinforcement over punishment when it comes to discipline. The parents overall have a fairly "hands-off" approach.

23. Multigenerational parenting

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Multigenerational parenting has been found to be practiced in China, India and Mexico, closely followed by Italy and Greece. This style is where there are multiple generations of adults, generally living together, who share responsibility when it comes to raising the children. Usually, the adults are part of the children's family. For example, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

24. Suckling parenting

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This parenting style focuses on the attachment between parent and child, specifically the mother. These parents believe that breastfeeding is key when it comes to attachment, so will continue to breastfeed their children for a longer period of time in comparison to other styles. They tend to keep children physically close by constantly. The style is most popular in some Native American cultures.

25. Collectivist parenting

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With an emphasis being placed on community and group values, this parenting style is where children are raised by the entire community, not just by their parents. It's popular in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The neighbours and extended family will help to take care of and discipline the children. They're taught to respect their elders and to put others needs before their own.

26. Emotional coaching parenting

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Emotion coaching parenting prioritizes raising children to be emotionally intelligent. Parents believe it's important to teach their children how to identify, understand and communicate their emotions, and promote healthy ways to manage them. It's a fairly new parenting style, but has gained the most popularity in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

27. Montessori parenting

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Based on the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, this approach has been mostly adopted in Italy and Spain. Montessori explained how children had a natural curiosity and a drive to learn. She felt education was best done on the job, allowing children to explore and learn at a pace suitable to them. These parents promote hands-on learning, natural consequences and respect for their children.

28. Reggio Emilia parenting

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China, Japan, Italy, the UK and the US are all countries who are using this parenting style. It is drawn from the educational philosophy of the Reggio Emilia approach. It originated in Italy in the 40s and focuses on the importance of relationships in a child's life. Parents like to document and capture their children's learning and encourage them to take an active role in their own development.

29. RIE parenting

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The United States, Canada, and Europe are the key countries where RIE parenting has been adopted. These parents observe their children closely, as they believe this is the best way to understand their needs and interests. They work towards empowering their children, encouraging independence. This style is based on the work of Magda Gerber, who was an early childhood professional.

30. Ubuntu parenting

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Ubuntu translates to "I am because we are." This parenting style focuses on the importance of community and interdependence. Children are raised by their community as a whole, being taught to have gratitude for everything that they have. Children are treated with as much respect as adults, and are listened to and acknowledged, being given independence wherever appropriate.