Styles of Parenting: MomTok Trends Explained

When scrolling through social media, you may have come across terms like “granola mom”, “gentle parenting”,  “attachment parenting”, or even the dreaded “sanctimommy”. These terms are attention-grabbing, but sometimes mystifying. When you’re only seeing a three-minute MomTok (the mom side of TikTok) about how to pack a lunch or tidy a playroom, you’re not getting the whole picture of how attachment parenting or mindful parenting actually works.

We’ve got you. We are going to do a whole series on styles of parenting, to let you plug into a style that suits you, and to give you a more in-depth look at the different ways people raise their kids. You might find one style that is a great fit, you might pick and choose from different styles, or you might keep on going with exactly how you already parent! Keep reading to get a sneak peek at what we will be writing about in the coming weeks when it comes to parenting styles.

Before you begin, remember that our professionals are always here to help

Parenting Styles and Social Media

Talking about how we parent has been a pastime as old as actually being a parent, but with social media, we can share what we know, and how we do things. This can be a real eye-opener, a way to see different ways of raising kids.

This can be a double-edged sword! You might find some really great tips on MomTok on how to calm your stormy toddler, but you might also find yourself worried you’re falling short, and that you’re not “crunchy’ or “mindful” enough in your parenting. Social media can be a minefield of self-doubt.

With that in mind, we want to remind you; being a mom is so hard. There are expectations put on us as moms that are impossible to meet (Barbie movie monologue, anyone?). When you read through what we lay out for you, know that all we want you to be able to do here is find ideas that support you.

Today’s Parenting Style Trends

Consider this a preview of some coming attractions in the LunaJoy blog. Here we are going to list out some trendy parenting style names, and a little bit about them. Our upcoming blogs about each style will go over the pros and cons of a parenting style, including covering research on how the style of parenting works and what impacts it has on both parents and kids. As we go, we may add even more than these, so stay tuned!

Parenting Styles from MomTok:

• Crunchy (or Granola) Parenting, Silky Parenting, and Scrunchie Parenting: 

• Crunchy, Silky, and Scrunchie are all parenting styles on a spectrum. Crunchy, or granola moms, are the baby-wearing, extended-breastfeeding, organic, moms of the world. Silky moms are something of the opposite; still caring and loving, they find that screen time, sweet snacks, and more flexibility with what’s “natural” vs. what works for them. Scrunchie parenting tends to combine the two, finding a balance somewhere in the middle. 

• Attachment Parenting:

• Attachment parenting focuses on creating a very strong, very responsive emotional bond between a child and their parent, especially in early childhood. Sleeping near the baby, breastfeeding, responding quickly to a baby or child’s bids for attention, and redirection when behavior isn’t ideal, are all parts of attachment parenting.

• Mindful Parenting:

• Mindful parenting asks you to look inward, to adjust how your outward behavior toward your child plays out. Considering how you respond to your child, moderating your emotions instead of reacting, is key. 

• Gentle Parenting:

• Gentle parenting encourages parents to work with their children on participating in life, fostering a willingness in children to clean up, play well with others, etc. It asks parents to model behavior they’d want to see, explaining the “why” of things when asking children to do something.

4 Major Parenting Styles in Psychology

Along with trendy parenting styles, we want to briefly go over the four major parenting styles in psychology. Any trendy style of parenting can fall under one or more of these, depending on how it is applied. The application can change the effectiveness of a parenting style, however; some are more effective than others at raising well-adjusted, healthy children. The major styles are:

• Authoritarian

• This style of parenting is heavy on rules and rule-following, deference to parent’s authority, and obedience. Often focuses on punishment.

• Authoritative

• This parenting style encourages communication about the boundaries and rules established in a household, so a child can understand the “why” of discipline. There is a focus on positive relationships with the child, so that while the adult is known to be in charge, the child feels heard and seen in the home. This is considered the healthiest parenting style.

• Permissive

• Permissive parenting sometimes has consequences or rules, sometimes not. Discipline is flexible and not particularly consistent. Parents are closer to friends than guides in life, so children may get more of what they want, but less of what they need.

• Uninvolved

• Uninvolved parents tend to not know much about their children, nor participate much in their upbringing. Children are left to their own devices, with little attention or help to know how to navigate the world. 

In reading this, you can see where different parenting styles might support children, or fail them, when they grow into teens and adults. It’s worth noticing how you’re applying your parenting style just as much as what style you choose to go with. It’s all about balance; balancing involvement with fostering independence, balancing discipline with understanding, and balancing caring and fun with consistency and support.

We at LunaJoy celebrate the moms of the world. You work so hard, and do so much for your families. We want to share these parenting styles to support you in your motherhood journey. In this series, we hope to shed light on different ways of doing things, ways that may speak to you as a parent and work well for your family. And remember: you’ve got this!