10 Different Styles of Parenting, According to Experts

What it is: In stark contrast to the more overbearing styles out there, free-range parenting takes a hands-off approach in order to raise self-reliant children. By trusting kids’ autonomy, these parents allow their kids to have more age-appropriate freedoms. It involves trial-and-error and risk-taking, but the goal is that their well-deserved independence will set them up for success as they grow up.

Why parents do it: Many fans of free-range parenting want their kids to have a strong sense of independence and do so by operating with little oversight. This includes letting kids do things and make decisions without your supervision, like walking to school or taking public transportation.

What research says: The main concerns surrounding free-range parenting are legal ones. In many states, there are laws and restrictions surrounding what minors are allowed to do unsupervised. Still, some research, including a 2018 study in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, has shown that encouraging a child’s independent mobility has been linked to improved mental and physical health.

Kelsey Garcia (she/her) is the lifestyle director at PS, where she oversees coverage across Balance and Fitness & Health. Kelsey is passionate about travel, wellness trends, and evolving parenting styles. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, among other publications.

Kate Schweitzer is a former senior editor for PS Family.