Think You'll Be A Helicopter Parent For Life? Think Again

A new article in The Conversation calls strict parenting labels into question. Drawing on research comparing humans with bonobos, gibbons and siamangs, the piece outlines how parents across species adjust their approach throughout their children's lives, based on age, need and environment.

After years of carefully defined labels, Hybrid Parenting is gaining popularity. And adopting a mix of parenting philosophies and strategies seems to be backed up by biology.

Parenting isn’t one fixed thing

According to the article, mothers across several primate species changed their behaviour depending on the level of risk their offspring faced. As the babies got older, caregivers generally became less protective and more permissive.

That tracks with real family life. While a toddler may need close supervision, a firm bedtime and a lot of hands-on help, a teen, ideally, gets more privacy, more independence and a later curfew. That doesn’t mean a parent has abandoned their values; it means they’re responding to what their child actually needs at that stage.

So what’s the takeaway for parents?

Parenting styles aren't useless, but they're probably more helpful if viewed through the lens of: what does my child need at this stage (or in this moment)? You may hover over your new walker, but give your dependable teen lots of freedom. The key to effective parenting seems to be adaptability. And while always switching gears can be a challenge, not having to stick to just one set of rules can make parenting a lot simpler.