Experts Explain 6 Modern Parenting Styles, and How Each One Affects Kids

Today's parents fall into one of six modern parenting approaches, but experts say only some of these styles actually help kids thrive. Find out which one you are.

These days, there is a name for the kind of parent you are, and experts have outlined six types, some serving children better than others.

Gentle parenting is warm and compassionate, with the goal of “attunement” or being in sync with the child in order to foster a close relationship. While kids raised by gentle parents tend to do well, this can be exhausting for the parent. In fact, a 2024 study found that one-third of gentle parents reported burnout and self-doubt.

Mother and child in matching outfits playing outdoors | Source: Pexels

Snowplow parenting involves removing obstacles from the path of the child to prevent them from struggling. But experts warn that this type of parenting can be detrimental to developing resilience in children, particularly when faced with adversity.

Helicopter parenting refers to parents who like to hover over their children, oftentimes to the point of being controlling and overprotective. Like snowplow parenting, “This micromanaging doesn’t help kids learn to pivot, navigate bumps in the road or develop resilience,” says educational psychologist Michele Borba.

This claim is backed up by recent research published in Child Development, which found that children of overprotective parents tend to be dependent and have low self-esteem and self-efficacy. They also reported lower moods during times they perceive their parents becoming overprotective.

A woman and her child in a tense moment | Source: Pexels

Free-range, or panda parenting, unlike overprotective parents, does the opposite. They encourage independence, though experts caution against being too lax, especially with younger children who still need guidance.

Tiger parenting, though not as popular these days, still exists in the form of strict, demanding parents who expect a lot from their children but are emotionally aloof to them. Children of tiger parents tend to experience high levels of stress and anxiety.

A woman scolding her daughter | Source: Pexels

While no two parents are alike, these approaches can help define the kind of parent you are and the kind you want to be.