The Best Toys for Kids Based on Your Parenting Style

What is your parenting style? Are you demanding and non-responsive? Or are you both demanding and very responsive?

I never consciously tried to judge my parenting style. Honestly, I didn’t know much about the various types until I entered the world of parenting sites and social media, where I was amazed by the amount of advice and parenting tips—and the variety of best toys for kids being recommended!
As a mother of an 11-year-old, I often wondered how my parenting choices—from discipline to toy selection—might shape my child’s future.

As a parent, it’s easy to compare yourself to others, especially while scrolling through the latest trends in kids’ learning toys and educational toys. But understanding the connection between parenting styles and the toys you choose can help guide your child’s growth and happiness.

Exploring Four Parenting Styles—and the Right Toys
Let’s look at the four main parenting styles, with tailored kids’ toy recommendations for each style, to help you find the perfect toys for your child's unique needs.

The three main styles of parenting were first identified by psychologist Diana Baumrind in the 1960s – Authoritative, Authoritarian and Permissive. Uninvolved Parenting, the fourth style, was added in the 1980s by Eleanor Maccoby and John Martin.

Authoritative Parenting: This style is both highly demanding and highly responsive. Parents set clear routines, provide warmth, and support growth. Research suggests this parenting style develops confident, happy, and successful kids.
In fact, Esther Wojcicki—mother of two CEOs and a doctor—attributes much of her children’s success to authoritative parenting approaches, as she shares in this CNBC article.

Toy Tip: Educational toys, like STEM toys, kids’ fashion design kits, or strategy-based board games, encourage learning together and suit structured playtimes. These are popular choices at most toy stores online for building skills and curiosity.

Authoritarian Parenting: Very demanding but less responsive, this style has strict household rules and little emotional warmth.

Toy Tip: Building blocks, challenging puzzles, or step-by-step art and craft kits fit these homes, supporting structure and goal achievement. Choosing guided kids’ learning toys helps reinforce routines—but don’t forget to allow for a bit of pretend play for balance!

Permissive Parenting: Permissive parents are high on affection, low on rules, and love giving children freedom—including in toy selection.

Toy Tip: Open-ended creative toys, like art supplies, pretend play costumes, dollhouses, or kids’ cooking sets, work perfectly. Letting your child choose their own toys is common in permissive homes, fostering independence, creativity, and self-expression—essential for their emotional growth.

Uninvolved Parenting: Low on both demand and responsiveness, this style means less engagement in toy choice or structured play.

Toy Tip: Even if you have a busy schedule, offering simple comfort toys, classic board games, or interactive digital learning toys can encourage connection and joyful learning moments when time allows.

Which parenting style are you—and how do you pick the best toys for kids in your home?
We’d love to hear your experiences! Share your favorite kids’ toy recommendations and let us know which parenting approach resonates with you most.