Which description best matches the authoritative parenting style?

• A. Authoritarian
• B. Uninvolved
• C. Authoritative
• D. Permissive

Answer: (C)

Authoritative parenting balances warmth with clear boundaries. It describes parents who set and enforce reasonable rules, explain the reasons behind them, and listen to their child, encouraging independence and problem-solving. This mix of high responsiveness and firm structure helps children learn self-control, responsibility, and social competence. The other styles differ in warmth and structure: one is strict and controlling without warmth, one is disengaged and minimally involved, and one is very permissive but provides little in the way of boundaries.