Parenting Styles

Low Demand, Low Support (Neglectful)

Ostrich Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, Low Support, Low Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The classic neglectful parent. They react to problems by ignoring them, exercising no control and offering no guidance, effectively leaving the child to fend for themselves.

Phantom Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, Low Support, Low Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The ideologically absent parent. They proactively create a system of non-involvement, justifying their lack of control and support as a philosophy for the child’s independence.

Hornet Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, Low Support, High Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The irritable recluse. They ignore the child until bothered, then react with sharp, sudden control (like yelling or issuing a harsh command) to restore their own peace.

Dollhouse Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, Low Support, High Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The passive controller. They proactively set up a highly controlled, rigid environment with strict rules designed to keep the child contained and out of their way, requiring minimal interaction.

Low Demand, High Support (Permissive)

Puppy Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, High Support, Low Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The loving companion. Warm and affectionate, they react to the child’s lead with encouragement but offer no rules or control, acting more as a playmate than a guide.

Dolphin Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, High Support, Low Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The intentional liberator. They proactively build a flexible, collaborative environment with minimal rules, believing this low-control structure is the best way to empower a child.

Jellyfish Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, High Support, High Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The conflict-averse parent. They react to a child’s desires or tantrums by giving in, using this form of placating control to maintain immediate happiness and avoid confrontation.

Concierge Parent

• Characteristics: Low Demand, High Support, High Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The happiness curator. They proactively control the child’s life by planning events, managing schedules, and removing all frustrations to guarantee a frictionless, happy experience.

High Demand, Low Support (Authoritarian)

Auditor Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, Low Support, Low Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The hands-off critic. They exert no control over the child’s process but react to the final outcome by meticulously identifying every flaw against their high standards.

Spartan Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, Low Support, Low Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The trial-by-fire parent. They proactively create a difficult, low-control environment (e.g., signing a child up for a brutal sport) and then step back, believing struggle builds character.

Cobra Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, Low Support, High Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The reactive enforcer. They don’t offer proactive guidance, but react harshly to broken rules, using punitive measures as their primary tool of control.

Tiger Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, Low Support, High Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The classic authoritarian. They proactively create and manage a highly controlled, demanding schedule of activities to ensure the child achieves a specific metric of success.

High Demand, High Support (Authoritative)

Lighthouse Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, High Support, Low Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The responsive guide. They maintain low daily control, trusting the child to navigate challenges, and react with warm, steady guidance only when the child seeks it.

Gardener Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, High Support, Low Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The nurturing cultivator. They proactively curate a nurturing environment with clear boundaries but exercise low control over the child’s specific choices within it.

Helicopter Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, High Support, High Control, Low Proactivity
• Description: The reactive problem-solver. They react to any current struggle by swooping in to take control and fix the immediate issue on the child’s behalf.

Snowplow Parent

• Characteristics: High Demand, High Support, High Control, High Proactivity
• Description: The proactive fixer. They proactively anticipate future obstacles and use their control to remove them before the child ever has a chance to encounter a challenge.