Free-range parenting: This movement seeks to preserve the notion that children grow into independence by practicing it. (“Go ride your bike and come home before dinner.”)
Helicopter parenting: The underlying assumption of this parent is that the child is fragile and must be protected from the dangers of the world. This habit is so named for the physical resemblance that a parent who hovers over their child has to a helicopter. (“Be careful!”)
Permissive parenting: This style of child rearing assumes that loving and bonding with the child is the goal of parenting. This parent doesn’t want her child to be mad at her. The parent-child relationship here might be described as a democracy. (“My daughter and I are best friends!”)
Slow parenting: Similar to the slow-food movement, the idea behind this philosophy is to stop and smell the roses, to let children set the pace of their day. Playing is their work, and the natural world is the best place for their discoveries and learning to occur. Electronic toys are discouraged, as they do not promote exploration. Slow parenting might be interpreted as a backlash to overscheduling children with activities and events. (“We didn’t make it to preschool today because we found an interesting pattern of rocks in the garden and spent time studying them.”)
