Are you aware of how you parent? Do you follow your own parents’ style or are you trying something new? Here are nine ‘parenting styles’ as recognised by experts, all with different methodologies, offering varied outcomes for the children. Can you spot your style?

Authoritarian
A strict, disciplined household. Military-style parenting featuring little warmth or space for ‘personality’ can create fearful children with low self-esteem with potential for aggressive behaviours as a means of venting frustration.

Authoritative
Creates clear boundaries, has high but fair expectation of all children, with high levels of attention. Self-expression is encouraged, and independence fostered. Children are seen as happy and confident with good social skills and emotional control.

Neglectful or Uninvolved
The least demanding and least responsive. As parents are highly self-involved, communication is at the lowest end. Only the basic needs of children are fulfilled, other developing needs being ignored or rejected.

Instinctive
This style of parenting follows intuition with a ‘go with the flow’ attitude. Parents nurture their children in the same way they were brought up – they apply the same logic and rules that were applied to them in childhood.

Helicopter
Parents ‘hover’ around their child like a helicopter – overprotective and constantly focussed on safety and security. Whilst this is suitable when the child is an infant, in the long run it could create over-dependent children with low self-esteem and fear of failure.

Slow
Also known as ‘simplicity’ or ‘free-range’. Parents allow children to grow as per their tastes and let them take the helm of their own life. With few demands or expectations, they encourage children to explore the world at their own pace. They allow them to develop their own interests and ultimately let the child be who they want to be.

Equalitarian
This method sees the family as a team with all members having a say and a valued opinion. Children are offered options and choices with information about consequences to help them choose informatively. Mistakes are accepted and seen as learning opportunities. There is no concept of ‘punishment’ as all team members are equal.

Attachment
Here, utmost importance is given to developing strong emotional bonds. Parents are sensitive to their children’s needs and offer continual emotional support. This can create robust, individualistic children. Often features home schooling, organic eating and alternative approaches to education.

Spiritual
Spiritual or God centred parenting will hold faith at the centre of all decision making and teaching. Spiritual parenting creates a closely bonded family who constantly reinforce the presence of ‘Spirit’ within the family, following rituals and celebrations and always seeking to be God Centred.

So, do you recognise your family here, or maybe you would like to adopt some of the ideas listed? One thing is for certain – it’s never too late to try something new, and your kids just might thank you for it!