parenting
Guiding young ones
Parenting is the work of raising children—feeding, protecting, teaching, and guiding them toward adulthood.
The term emerged in the late twentieth century as child-rearing became increasingly discussed as a skill set: a parenting class, parenting styles.
It can describe hands-on care or broader philosophy: attachment parenting, helicopter parenting.
The verb parent follows the same pattern: How were you parented?
Attending to dependents
- nourishmentFood that sustains life
- protectionGuarding against harm
- fosteringPromoting development or growth
- upbringingChildhood care and training
tenderness · compassion · providing · comforting · caring · feeding · bathing · soothing
Exchange of spoken ideas
- listeningAttending to sound
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
- explanationStatement making something clear
questioning · negotiation · feedback · storytelling · expression · responding · conflict resolution · active listening
Results of actions taken
- boundariesLines marking separation
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- correctionFixing of mistakes
time-out · grounding · authority · consistency · enforcement · expectations · limits · standards
Connection or fondness
- connectionA joining or relation
- bondBinding tie or connection
- closenessState of proximity
- trustConfidence in another
security · relationship · interaction · engagement · responsiveness · quality time · presence · affection
Notable points of progress
- growthIncrease in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- progressionSequential forward movement
- pubertySexual development stage
adolescence · self-discovery · independence · potty training · first steps · first words · school readiness · social skills
Having recognized expertise
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- helicopterRotary-wing aircraft
free-range · blended family · adoptive · foster · strict · lenient · balanced · traditional
Advising someone less experienced
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- role modelingDemonstrating behavior worth emulating
values · morals · life lessons · decision-making · problem-solving · homework help · career guidance · wisdom
caregiving
Attending to dependents
- nourishmentFood that sustains life
- protectionGuarding against harm
- fosteringPromoting development or growth
upbringing · tenderness · compassion · providing · comforting · caring · feeding · bathing · soothing · bedtime
conversation
Exchange of spoken ideas
- listeningAttending to sound
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- discussionExchange of ideas
explanation · questioning · negotiation · feedback · storytelling · expression · responding · conflict resolution · active listening · boundaries
consequences
Results of actions taken
- boundariesLines marking separation
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
correction · time-out · grounding · authority · consistency · enforcement · expectations · limits · standards · accountability
attachment
Connection or fondness
- connectionA joining or relation
- bondBinding tie or connection
- closenessState of proximity
trust · security · relationship · interaction · engagement · responsiveness · quality time · presence · affection · intimacy
milestones
Notable points of progress
- growthIncrease in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- progressionSequential forward movement
puberty · adolescence · self-discovery · independence · potty training · first steps · first words · school readiness · social skills · emotional regulation
authoritative
Having recognized expertise
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- uninvolvedNot taking part
helicopter · free-range · blended family · adoptive · foster · strict · lenient · balanced · traditional · modern
mentoring
Advising someone less experienced
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- teachingProfession of instructing others
role modeling · values · morals · life lessons · decision-making · problem-solving · homework help · career guidance · wisdom · support
- parentingchild, mom, children, kids, childcare
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- family dynamicsfamily dynamics, family roles, family therapy, sibling rivalry, family values
- life skillsreading, writing, cooking, cleaning, laundry
- nonfiction genresbiography, memoir, autobiography, history, science
- family dutiescaregiving, childcare, elder care, family support, chores
parentingneglect
Failure to provide care
child neglect · child abandonment · abandonment · child abuse · desertion
- helicopter parentingExcessive involvement in children's lives
- single parentingRaising children without partner
- bubble wrap parenting
- gentle parenting
- foster parentingTemporary guardianship of minors
- parenting adviceGuidance on raising children