Session 2  Parenting Styles
Parenting Styles Objectives
Parents and participants will:
Assess and name their own parenting style
Determine the parenting style of other adults
who help raise their child (the other
parent, a grandparent, etc.)
Understand the immediate
and long-term effects of various
parenting styles
Discuss parenting style differences in a family
Parenting Styles – Icebreaker
Parenting Plans –
Icebreaker Blueprint
• Characteristics I want my child to
have at age 18.
• Characteristics my child has
already.
Stop writing for now.
• What do I plan to do to give my
child the skills he/she needs to
develop the planned
characteristics?
Four Parenting Styles
Dominating
Permissive
Unengaged
Positive
Dominating Parenting Style
Power-oriented discipline
Threatens, intimidates, commands
Uses “I’m bigger/stronger than you” tactics
Rigid and controlling
Demands respect through fear
Believes the parent is always right
Offers very little affection, warmth, encouragement
or praise
Enforces a clear set of expectations
Monitors children’s activities carefully
Possibilities for Children of
Dominating Parenting Style
Rebellious or submissive
Distrustful
Power-oriented with peers (bully?)
Manipulative, sneaky
Power struggles with parent
Difficulty making decisions
Only follows rules when parent is
present
Permissive Parenting Style
Tries to be child’s friend
Substitutes “things” for time or commitment
Too busy or distracted
Offers few guidelines
Inconsistent
Feels sorry for the child
Gives in too easily
Does too much for the child
Rescues
May be reacting to their own rigid upbringing
Possibilities for Children
of Permissive Parenting Style
Insecure
Searching for boundaries
Little respect for authority
Poor self-control
Self-indulging
Doesn’t follow rules
Irresponsible
Doesn’t understand cause and effect; hasn’t
learned that his/her actions have consequences
Unengaged Parenting Style
Inconsistent
Little nurturing
No expectations
Selfish
Children tend to raise themselves
May be physically present but not
emotionally or mentally engaged
Low respect toward children or others
•
Possibilities for Children of
Unengaged Parenting Style
Low self-esteem
High anxiety
Few social skills
Little respect for others
No responsibility OR
May be too responsible for
their age if expected to raise
themselves and siblings
Positive Parenting Style
Firm but loving
Sets clear boundaries
Follows through with appropriate consequences
Reasonable expectations
Allow for learning mistakes
Healthy modeling of expected behaviors
Confident, flexible, respectful
Follows through with appropriate consequences
Teamwork, give and take, share the power
Possibilities for Children of
Positive Parenting Style
Confident
Secure
Respects self and others
Responsible
Self-disciplined
Inner motivation
Closer family relationships
Parenting Plans –
Icebreaker Blueprint
Discipline
 Finish your
icebreaker sheet
with positive
parenting tips
Respect
 What I plan to do
to give my child the
skills he/she needs to develop
healthy characteristics
Nurturing
When Parenting Styles Disagree
Out of Balance
Balance
“Out of balance” happens
when parents become
more strict or lenient in
response to the other
parent’s style.
Balance happens when
parents agree on the issues
and consequences,
consider the outcomes and
support one another.
Parent 1
Parent 2
Parent 1
Parent 2
Shifting Gears
Please
remember
your
handouts!
Do you have
anything you
would like to
share from
last week’s
session?
Thank you
for
participating!