Identifying Toxic Parenting: 16 Types Of Toxic Parents, Signs And How To Deal

Types Of Toxic Parents, Signs And How To Deal

Parents are considered to be the guiding force in every child’s life. They are the primary caregivers, the ones who teach us the values of life, and help us shape our personalities. However, not all parents are perfect, and some can have a toxic impact on their children’s lives. Moreover, there are several types of toxic parents.

So, who are toxic parents? Toxic parents are those who have a negative impact on their children’s lives, either through their behavior or their actions. They can cause emotional, psychological, and sometimes even physical harm to their children.

In this article, we are going to talk about the signs of toxic parenting, different types of toxic parents and how they have an impact on their children. We will examine the various behaviors and actions that toxic parents can exhibit, provide insights on how to recognize them, and also give tips for dealing with toxic parents.

Related: 10 Things Toxic Parents Say And What They Actually Mean

Signs Of Toxic Parenting

Recognizing toxic parents can be challenging, especially if you have grown up with their behavior.

Some signs of toxic parents include:

  • Belittling or demeaning behavior
  • Physical or emotional abuse
  • Ignoring or neglecting children’s needs
  • Over-involvement in children’s lives
  • Unrealistic expectations
  • Manipulation and control
  • Substance abuse or addiction
  • Micromanaging or restrictive behavior
  • Comparing children to others
  • Dismissing children’s feelings and needs
  • Playing favorites among children
  • Using guilt as a means of control
  • Refusing to apologize or take responsibility for their actions
  • Constantly criticizing or nagging
  • Refusing to respect boundaries and personal space
Types of toxic parents

Now, that we have discussed the signs of toxic parenting, let’s find out what are the different types of toxic parents.

16 Types Of Toxic Parents

1. The Narcissistic Parent

Types of toxic parents

Narcissistic parents can be emotionally abusive and neglectful, and they tend to view their children as extensions of themselves rather than as individuals with their own unique identities.

They often use their children to meet their own emotional needs, such as feeling important or powerful and can become envious or jealous of their children’s accomplishments or attention from others.

Narcissistic parents can exhibit a range of harmful behaviors, such as disregarding their children’s feelings, dismissing their opinions, and manipulating or exploiting them for their own gain.

They may also be overly critical, demanding, and controlling, setting unrealistic expectations and punishing their children when they fail to meet them.

Children of narcissistic parents often struggle with low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and a lack of boundaries. They may also experience anxiety, depression, and difficulties forming healthy relationships later in life.

In some cases, they may even internalize their parents’ abusive behaviors and become narcissistic themselves.

2. The Abusive Parent

Types of toxic parents

Abusive parenting can take many forms, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect. Physical abuse includes kicking, hitting, and even throwing objects, while emotional abuse includes name-calling, belittling, and withholding love and affection.

Sexual abuse can include any unwanted or inappropriate sexual contact or exposure. Neglect can involve failure to provide for a child’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, or medical care.

Children of abusive parents often struggle with the long-lasting effects of their trauma, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. They may also struggle with issues of self-worth, trust, and forming healthy relationships, be it romantic relationships or friendships.

Related: 10 Types Of Toxic Mothers Who Only Know How To Hurt Their Child

3. The Neglectful Parent

Types of toxic parents

Neglectful parenting is characterized by a failure to provide for a child’s basic needs, including physical, emotional, and psychological care. Neglectful parents may not provide their children with sufficient food, shelter, or clothing, leaving them vulnerable to physical harm and health problems.

Additionally, these parents may be emotionally distant, failing to give their children the love and support they need to thrive. Even though they are “parents”, they could care less about their children and their well-being.

The impact of such type of toxic parenting behaviours can be devastating, leading to a range of negative outcomes for children. They may suffer from poor physical and mental health, struggle with self-esteem and relationships, and experience difficulty in school or other settings.

Children who grow up with neglectful parents may also struggle with addiction and other destructive behaviors, as they try to cope with the pain and trauma of their childhood experiences.

4. The Enmeshed Parent

Types of toxic parents

Enmeshed parenting is a style where a parent is excessively involved in their child’s life, which can lead to an unhealthy dynamic. Such parents can be controlling, constantly discourage their kids from developing an independent personality, and may even make all the decisions on behalf of the child.

Children raised by enmeshed parents often struggle to set healthy boundaries and may develop codependent tendencies.

This parenting style can have long-term consequences on a child’s emotional, psychological, and social development. Children raised by enmeshed parents may struggle with anxiety, low self-worth, and difficulty forming meaningful and healthy relationships when they grow up.

As they become adults, they may struggle with decision-making, setting boundaries, and establishing their own identities.

5. The Perfectionist Parent

Types of toxic parents

What is toxic parenting? This!

Perfectionist parents are those types of toxic parents who set exceedingly high expectations for their children, are frequently critical of their performance, and even punish them for any mistakes or shortcomings.

This type of parenting can be detrimental to a child’s emotional well-being, causing them to experience anxiety, loss of self-confidence, and fear of failure.

Children raised by perfectionist parents end up suffering from low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and experience difficulties with self-worth.

The pressure to meet unattainable standards can also lead to severe mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Moreover, such children may become risk-averse and avoid new challenges, fearing failure.

Related: 8 Things Parents Do That Keep Children From Succeeding

6. The Manipulative Parent

Types of toxic parents

Manipulative parents use emotional manipulation to control their children. This can be in the form of guilt-tripping, gaslighting, or even threatening their children. Children raised by manipulative parents may develop trust issues and struggle to form healthy relationships.

Such a type of parenting can have long-term consequences on a child’s emotional and psychological well-being. Children may end up developing self-esteem issues, crippling anxiety, and even show signs of depression.

They may also struggle with decision-making and experience difficulties in establishing healthy boundaries, even after turning adults.

7. The Addicted Parent

Types of toxic parents

Parental addiction is a devastating problem that can have dangerous consequences for children.

An addicted parent is someon who struggles with alcohol or drug use, or both, or other kinds of addiction, such as gambling. They may neglect their children’s basic needs, and their addiction may become their top priority, causing significant emotional and psychological harm to their children.

Children raised by addicted parents may experience trauma, trust issues, parentification, and even depression. They end up struggling with emotional regulation and have difficulties establishing healthy relationships.

Moreover, children of addicted parents are more likely to develop addiction problems themselves, due to genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.

8. The Controlling Parent

Types of toxic parents

Controlling parents are those types of toxic parents who micromanage their children’s lives, often to the point of restricting their independence. Controlling parents may dictate their children’s activities, friendships, and even career choices.

Children raised by controlling parents often struggle with decision-making and may have difficulty asserting their independence.

Controlling parenting can have long-term consequences on a child’s emotional, mental, and psychological well-being. Their children end up suffering from low self-esteem and struggle with making important decisions independently. Even after turning adults, they depend on their parents for making all decisions for them.

They suffer from a severe lack of autonomy and independence and may even grow up to be mentally and emotionally fragile.

9. The Competitive Parent

Types of toxic parents

Competitive parents are those types of toxic parents who see their children as an extension of themselves and often compare them to other children. They may pressure their children to excel in academics or sports, and even belittle them when they fail to meet their expectations.

Children raised by competitive parents often grow up to be under-confident and may struggle with feelings of not being good enough.

They never get to understand the concept of healthy competition and its importance since their parents have always instilled in them that winning is everything. Such parents never help their children develop a growth mindset, and obsessively focus on perfection instead of progress.

Competitive parents don’t model positive and healthy behaviors, nor do they teach their children the importance of giving their 100%. They only believe that either you are a winner or a loser.

Related: How Toxic Fathers Affect Their Daughters Into Adulthood

10. The Dismissive Parent

The Dismissive Parent

As the name suggests, a dismissive parent dismisses their children’s needs and feelings. These parents may belittle their children or refuse to acknowledge their emotions. Children raised by dismissive parents often develop attachment issues and may struggle with forming healthy relationships in the future.

Dismissive parenting can make children feel rejected, unimportant, or invisible, leading to low self-esteem and self-worth. Moreover, children may struggle with trusting others and forming secure attachments, leading to difficulties in relationships throughout their lives.

Such toxic parents never validate their children’s feelings and needs nor do they show them that they are loved and valued. They don’t believe in open and transparent communication with their children, rather they always ignore them and their feelings.

11. The Lawnmower Parent

Types of toxic parents

Lawnmower parenting is a style where parents “mow down” any obstacle or challenge that their child may face in order to make their child’s life easier. Lawnmower parents take an overprotective approach to parenting, and they may go to great lengths to shield their children from any adversity or disappointment.

They often anticipate and prevent any problem or setback their child may encounter, such as intervening with teachers or coaches on their child’s behalf or doing their child’s school work for them.

They may also shield their child from the consequences of their actions, such as calling in sick for them or paying for their mistakes.

This style of parenting can have negative consequences on a child’s development, such as a lack of resilience, independence, and problem-solving skills. Children of lawnmower parents may struggle with handling stress and challenges, and they may have difficulty taking responsibility for their actions.

Types of toxic parents

12. The Helicopter Parent

Types of toxic parents

Helicopter parenting is a style where parents hover over their children, constantly monitoring and directing their activities. These parents may be overly involved in their child’s life, often to the point of micromanaging and controlling their every move.

Helicopter parents may be well-intentioned, wanting to protect their kids from harm and ensure their success. However, this style of parenting can have negative consequences on a child’s development, such as a lack of independence, self-esteem, and decision-making skills.

Children of helicopter parents may struggle with decision-making and taking initiative, as they have become accustomed to their parents making decisions for them. Additionally, they may develop anxiety and a fear of failure, as they have been shielded from disappointment and negative consequences.

Related: 60+ Quotes About Selfish Parents Thatโ€™ll Help You Cope Better

13. The Volatile Parent

Types of toxic parents

This is easily one of the most poisonous types of toxic parents.

The explosive or volatile parent is one who reacts to situations with extreme anger or emotional outbursts. These parents may have a low tolerance for frustration and may lash out at their children over small issues. This type of behavior can have negative consequences on a child’s emotional and psychological well-being.

Children of explosive parents may feel unsafe and may develop anxiety or depression. They may also have difficulty regulating their own emotions and may struggle with forming healthy relationships.

Every disagreement and argument ends up turning into screaming and shouting, and with explosive and volatile parents, normal conversations are a rarity.

14. The “Parentified” Parent

Types of toxic parents

The parentified parent is one of those types of toxic parents who relies on their child to take on adult responsibilities and caretaking duties.

These parents may struggle with their own emotional or psychological issues, and as a result, may not be able to provide the appropriate care for their children. This can cause the child to take on the role of a parent, caring for their own siblings, and even the parent themselves.

Children of parentified parents may experience significant emotional and psychological distress, as they are robbed of their childhood and forced to take on adult responsibilities.

They may also experience a sense of guilt or responsibility for their parent’s well-being and may struggle with forming healthy and meaningful adult relationships in the future.

15. The Hypocrite Parent

Types of toxic parents

Another major example of toxic parenting is this. Hypocritical parents are probably one of the most toxic parents out there.

They preach one set of values or behaviors but act in a contradictory manner themselves. They expect their children to adhere to strict rules and guidelines but fail to follow them themselves. This can cause confusion and distrust in their children, who may struggle to reconcile their parent’s words with their actions.

Children of hypocritical parents may experience significant emotional and mental distress and confusion, as they feel betrayed and uncertain about the authenticity of their parent’s values and beliefs.

They may also struggle with developing their own sense of morality and may be more likely to engage in deceptive behaviors themselves while growing up.

Related: 6 Kinds of Emotional Abuse by Narcissistic Parents

16. The Infallible Parent

Types of toxic parents

One of the most common types of toxic parents is this.

The infallible parent is one who believes they are always right and cannot make mistakes. They struggle to accept responsibility for their actions and have difficulty apologizing to their children when they are wrong. This can lead to a lack of accountability and may cause tension and conflict within the family.

Children raised by infallible parents end up feeling invalidated and unheard, as their opinions and perspectives are always dismissed by their parents. They also struggle with developing their own sense of autonomy and feel incapable of making decisions for themselves.

Their self-esteem and self-worth take a massive hit because of this, and they spend their entire lives picking up the pieces of their self-confidence.

Types of toxic parents

Dealing with Toxic Parents

Dealing with toxic parents can be challenging, but it is essential to protect yourself from their harmful behavior.

Some effective tips for dealing with toxic parents are the following:

  • Set strict personal boundaries: Establish clear boundaries and communicate them with your parents. Let them know what behavior is acceptable and what is not.
  • Rely on your loved ones: Surround yourself with supportive friends and family members who can provide emotional support.
  • Seek professional help: Consider seeking the help of a therapist or counselor who can help you deal with the emotional trauma caused by toxic parents.
  • Practice self-care: Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.
  • Limit contact: If necessary, limit contact with toxic parents or cut off contact entirely if their behavior is causing significant harm.

Takeaway

Toxic parents can have a significant impact on your life, leading to emotional, psychological, and physical issues. Recognizing their toxic behavior and setting boundaries is essential for protecting yourself from their harmful actions.

Related: Emotionally Immature Parents: 7 Signs You Were Raised By One

Seeking professional help and surrounding yourself with supportive people can also help you heal from the emotional trauma caused by toxic parents. Remember that you deserve to be treated with respect and love, and it is okay to prioritize your well-being over toxic relationships.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happens to children of toxic parents?

Children of toxic parents often grow up with emotional wounds and psychological scars. They may struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and trust issues. These effects can persist into adulthood and impact their relationships, career, and overall well-being.

What is the most harmful parenting style?

The most harmful parenting style is probably authoritarian parenting, where strict rules and harsh punishments are imposed without explanation or negotiation. Children raised by authoritarian parents develop low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, as well as exhibit rebellious or aggressive behavior.

What are Unicorn parents?

Unicorn parents prioritize their child’s happiness and well-being over other considerations, such as discipline or structure. They are generally very supportive of their children’s dreams, desires, and goals, and try to create a nurturing environment so that they can grow.

What is a hummingbird parent?

A hummingbird parent emphasizes being nurturing and supportive while also allowing children to explore and make mistakes. It is based on the concept of “hovering nearby” like a hummingbird, providing guidance and support without being overbearing.

Types of toxic parents
Types of toxic parents
Types of toxic parents
Types of toxic parents
toxic parents

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply



Up Next

7 Signs Someone Is Projecting Onto You: Are You Bearing Someone Else’s Burden?

Signs Someone Is Projecting Their Emotional Baggage On You

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and it felt like they were accusing you of things that didn’t seem like you? It’s as if they’re dumping their own issues on you, leaving you scratching your head, wondering what is happening. Well, this is just one of the many signs someone is projecting their emotional baggage on you.

You’re gradually realizing that you are being blamed for things that’re not your fault at all. You are being accused to be the kind of person you are not. It’s as though they’re running their private movie theater, and you’ve become their projection screen.

But before we get int



Up Next

Dog Whistling Narcissist: 8 Ways Narcissists Use This Covert Manipulation Tactic

Dog Whistling Narcissist: Covert Ways They Manipulate You

Have you ever had the feeling that when you are talking to someone, there’s a hidden message they’re trying to get across to you? A message that feels insulting, condescending and hurtful? If you answered yes, then you are dealing with a dog whistling narcissist, my friend.

These people are experts at sending subtle messages that are extremely hurtful and humiliating, but only you understand it, not anyone else. When a narcissist uses dog whistling, their main motive is to manipulate you and keep you under their control. They’ll use it to dominate you, and put you down, while pretending to be harmless.

But what is dog whistling, and how narcissists use dog whistling? Let’s find out, shall we?



Up Next

8 Powerful Phrases To Shut Down Gaslighting With Confidence

Powerful Phrases To Shut Down Gaslighting With Confidence

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you felt like everything you are saying or feeling is being dismissed and invalidated, even though you know you’re right? If you answered yes, then you were subjected to gaslighting. If you have experienced this, then remember these 8 phrases to shut down gaslighting like a boss.

When someone makes you question your reality, it can feel extremely frustrating and depressing. Weโ€™ve all been there at some point. These little digs can make you feel like youโ€™re on thin ice, be it from a friend, family member or that one co-worker.

But hey, you’ve come to the



Up Next

The Emotionally Absent Mother: Overcoming Her Legacy And Healing From The Wounds

The Emotionally Absent Mother: Healing From The Wounds

Having an emotionally absent mother can take a heavy toll on your mental and emotional well-being, and that too from a very young age. This article is going to explore what it means to have an emotionally unavailable mother, how her emotional absence can affect you and how to heal from it and move on.

Growing up with a mother who wasnโ€™t emotionally available may have complicated your relationship with your emotions. Our early experiences of emotional attunement play an important part in the subsequent regulation of our emotions.

An emotionally absent mother may fail to develop the kind of satisfying attachment bonds in her children that make sustaining ordinary relationships possible.



Up Next

Is It Love Or A Trap? 10 Ominous And Warning Signs Of Love Bombing

Ominous And Warning Signs Of Love Bombing: Love Or Trap?

Have you ever experienced the turbulent side of love, that comes from falling head over heels for someone? The butterflies in your stomach, the passion you feel, and the feeling of being swept off your feet – feels amazing, doesn’t it? But what if I told you that behind this seemingly perfect faรงade lies something dark and sinister? What if I told you these are warning signs of love bombing?

Welcome to the dark world of love bombing; a psychological tactic used by manipulative people to gain control over your mind and heart. In this article, we will talk about what does love bombing mean, and the signs you are being love bombed.

Let’s get started first with what does love bombing mean, shal



Up Next

Surviving Toxic Friendships: 15 Shocking Signs Of An Abusive Friend You Can’t Afford To Ignore

Signs of an Abusive Friend: Surviving Toxic Friendships

Do you feel like your BFF is jealous of you? Do they constantly criticize and always try to influence your decisions? Are they always around when they need a favor from you, but immediately disappear when you need support? Then it is likely you have a toxic, abusive friend. Let us explore the signs of an abusive friend and how to deal with an abusive friend.

A friendship is one of the most authentic and purest forms of relationships we can experience as it is not bound by blood or any compulsion. Friendships are born out of mutual respect, support, companionship and happiness. Our friends support us and pick us up when we are down and guide us when we stray too far.

However, some individuals use the mask of friendship simply to exploit, dominate and abuse us. They pretend to be our friends as long as we are of use to them and freque



Up Next

The Playbook Of Deceit: 11 Narcissistic Games Used To Torment You

Narcissistic Games Used To Torment: Playbook Of Deceit

Have you ever encountered someone that made you question your own sanity? Or found yourself caught in a web of manipulation, unsure of how you got there? If so, then you may have encountered a narcissist and have been a victim of narcissistic games.

Narcissists are masters at psychological games. A charming smile hides their darker agenda as they play several mind games to control and exploit you. These mind games narcissists play can be psychologically damaging, without you even realizing it at times.

In this article, weโ€™ll unravel 11 narcissistic games, exposing all their tactics, so that you don’t fall