5 Things You Need to Know About the Nurturant Parent Model

1. Nurture and Grow

The nurturant parent model, as described by university professor George Lakoff, describes parents as having a responsibility to their family, their community and themselves to make the world a better place. The world is seen as inherently good, children are born good and it’s the parents responsibility to help them reach their full potential. The nurturant parent model is about empathy and responsibility.

2. Caring and Sharing

Empathy means to understand and feel what another person feels. In this parenting model, parents nurture their children by taking care of them and teaching them to care for others. Responsibility means taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others and cooperating with others to improve the world that you live in. Having empathy for other human beings and being responsible for their well-being makes you nurturing. In the nurturant parent model, parents demonstrate this by protecting their children and others from the evils of this world. They teach them how to deal with life’s difficulties by being positive.

3. Core Values

The core values of the nurturant parent model are strength, safety and protection, fulfillment in life, fairness, freedom, opportunity, prosperity, community, cooperation, trust, honesty and open communication. Taking care of others makes us feel fulfilled, which makes us want to treat others fairly. The sense of community encompasses trust, cooperation, honesty and therefore open communication. It all starts with strength. Children are encouraged to be wise and self-disciplined to fulfill their responsibilities.

4. Take Responsibility

Nurturant parents’ values extend to their political views and the world as a whole. Empathy and responsibility are exhibited in the parents’ public and private lives. Some of these life issues are equal rights for all, prosperity for the community and the government being responsible for the needs of the people. Children are also taught to feel connected to nature and the environment. According to this model, the world is one big community, and we must all play our part.

5. Giving Back

In the nurturant parent model, children obey their parents because they love and respect them, not because they fear them. Restitution is their “punishment” of choice for disobedience. Retribution is for those who commit evil. Children are allowed to be children. It is just as important for them to play and experience life as it is to serve others. Parents are there for support, love and encouragement.

About this Author

Lynn Harris is a freelance writer who has worked in health insurance and benefits for two and a half years. She writes on topics such as health issues concerning expectant mothers and young children, in addition to fitness and exercise. Lynn keeps herself fit by incorporating healthy eating, various forms of cardio and strength training into her da