What It Means to Put Children First: A Mixed-Method Investigation of Child-Centric Parenting

Child-centrism is a commonly practiced parenting approach in which parents prioritize their children’s well-being over their own. Despite initial validation of a child-centrism scale among mothers—supporting its distinctiveness from other intensive parenting styles—research has yet to comprehensively examine child-centrism in fathers and identify motivations for engaging in and concrete manifestations of child-centrism. In this research, we provide a nuanced examination of mother and father child-centrism, including parents’ child-centric motivations and behaviors. Across two mixed-method studies ( N = 387 parents from the U.S.), we demonstrate that mothers and fathers interpret and respond to the child-centrism scale similarly and further establish the validity of the child-centrism measure. We also conduct gender comparisons of child-centrism endorsement, examine parents’ motivations for engaging in child-centrism, and identify qualitative themes among parents’ child-centric behaviors. This research advances understanding of child-centrism as a distinct and meaningful parenting approach, underscoring its relevance for both mothers and fathers.