I remember when I was a child, the world of parenting seemed so simple. There were two clear types of parents I noticed—those who were strict and authoritative, like my mother, and those who were more lenient. My mother’s approach was firm and often involved clear rules and high expectations, while some of my friends’ parents took a more relaxed route, allowing them to explore and make mistakes without much interference. Over the years, however, parenting styles have evolved, and today, we see a much wider range of approaches, parenting terms each with its unique nuances and philosophies. 
From the fiercely protective "lawnmower parent" to the freedom-loving "free-range parent," these terms reflect the diversity in how parents nurture, guide, and sometimes even challenge their children.

 

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New Parenting Terms to Know

1. Lawnmower Parent
A lawnmower parent is someone who actively tries to clear obstacles from their child’s path to make life easier for them. They intervene to ensure their child doesn’t face any challenges and lead a comfortable life.

Example:
Neha is a mother who ensures her son, Arjun, has an easy pveath in life. When Arjun faces difficulties with his school assignments, Neha will step in to solve them for him, or even hire a tutor to make sure he doesn’t struggle. If Arjun has a disagreement with a friend, Neha contacts the friend’s parents to resolve it. Neha doesn’t want Arjun to face discomfort, believing that it’s her job to remove all difficulties for him.

 

2. Snowplow Parent
Snowplow parents are similar to lawnmower parents, but they go a step further. A snowplow parent goes beyond clearing obstacles; they proactively remove all potential difficulties or challenges, even before the child faces them.

Example:
Rajesh and Sunita are parents of Priya, a high school student. Priya’s school entrance exams are approaching, but instead of encouraging her to study and prepare on her own, they take extreme steps—Rajesh contacts teachers to ask for extra time for Priya, and Sunita calls friends to ensure Priya gets the best coaching in the city. They don’t want Priya to  struggle, as they believe it’s their responsibility to ensure she doesn’t experience failure.

 

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3. Tiger Mom

As the name suggests, the "Tiger Mom" is a strict, demanding parent who pushes their child to achieve high academic and extracurricular success. They are quite focused on discipline, achievement, and success. 

Example:
Ravi’s mother, Mrs. Sharma, is a classic Tiger Mom. From a young age, Ravi was enrolled in multiple extracurricular activities like music, dance, and math coaching, all on top of his regular schoolwork. Mrs. Sharma expects him to top in his class, practice for hours, and achieve perfect scores. She believes that strict discipline, hard work, and sacrifice will ensure Ravi’s future success, even if it means less playtime and socialising.

 

4. Lighthouse Parenting
Lighthouse parenting involves being a guiding presence in your child’s life. They are always there to provide direction or feedback if required, but are not always following them for every small decision. This allows them the much required space to navigate their own course. It’s about being there when needed, but letting the child make their own decisions and offer the much required liberty to grow, flourish and pave their own paths. .

Example:
Aarti and her husband Arvind are lighthouse parents to their daughter, Meera. When Meera faces challenges at school, like a difficult project, Aarti and Arvind provide advice and help her brainstorm ideas, but they don’t take over the project. Instead of pushing her toward a particular career, they encourage Meera to explore different fields and find what excites her. They believe in supporting her independence while providing a steady presence when she needs guidance.

 

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5. Free-Range Parenting
Free-range parents give their children independence and trust them to make decisions and learn from their own experiences. The idea is to encourage self-reliance and resilience.

Example:
Sandeep and Priya are parents of 12-year-old Rohan. They believe in giving Rohan the freedom to roam and explore. Rohan often rides his bicycle around the neighborhood to visit his friends, and his parents never hover. They trust him to make good decisions, like avoiding busy streets and being home before dark. They believe that by allowing Rohan to navigate the world on his own, he will become more self-sufficient and responsible.

 

6. "French" Parenting
"French" parenting, often linked to the book Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman, is about promoting good behaviour, setting boundaries, and allowing children to be independent, while also maintaining a balance between structured family life and personal time.
Example:
Sita, a mother in Delhi, follows a balanced approach similar to "French" parenting. She ensures that her son, Aarav, eats at the dining table with the family, even if he’s not particularly hungry. When Aarav refuses to eat his vegetables, she gently but firmly insists, explaining the benefits. Sita also ensures Aarav understands that bedtime is non-negotiable, and there’s no room for negotiation. She also makes time for herself, spending weekends with friends, knowing that it’s important to maintain a life outside of parenting.

 

Related story: What Is Your Parenting Style?

 

7. Dolphin Parenting
Dolphin parents focus on fostering emotional intelligence, empathy, and positive connections with their children. They’re supportive, nurturing, and encourage communication, just like dolphins who are known for their intelligence and sociability.
Example:
Amrita and Sameer are dolphin parents to their daughter, Tanu. When Tanu struggles with her emotions, like when she feels left out of a group, Amrita listens patiently and helps Tanu understand and express her feelings. Instead of using punishment, Sameer helps Tanu come up with positive solutions for how to handle her emotions. They encourage Tanu to share her thoughts openly and support her in becoming emotionally intelligent.

 

8. Crunchy, Granola Mom
Crunchy, granola moms are parents who embrace a natural, holistic lifestyle. They prefer organic foods, sustainable practices, and often emphasise eco-conscious choices, including alternative education and natural parenting methods.
Example:
Geetanjali is a crunchy, granola mom living in Pune. She makes all of her daughter’s meals using locally sourced organic ingredients, and she makes sure that every product she uses—whether it’s baby lotion or cleaning supplies—is chemical-free and eco-friendly. She believes in natural birth practices and opted for a home birth with a midwife. Geetanjali also insists on using cloth diapers and prioritises environmental sustainability in her parenting style

 

9. Stealth Parenting
Stealth parents are less overt in their involvement. They prefer to step back and allow their children the freedom to make mistakes and figure things out on their own, while still offering guidance when needed.
Example:
Vikram and Rina are stealth parents to their son, Aarush. When Aarush has an argument with his friends, they don’t rush in to resolve it for him. Instead, they let him figure out how to apologise or make amends on his own. Similarly, if Aarush struggles with his studies, they gently suggest study habits or resources but avoid pressuring him. Vikram and Rina believe that their son will grow stronger and more independent if he learns how to handle challenges himself, without constant intervention.

 

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