Parenting practices are highly dependent on culture. For example, in Canada and the USA children live at home until late adolescence or early adulthood, and during this time are expected to leave home for college or work to support themselves. In some Asian countries, such as China, children live at home until they are married, a practice that is also common in European countries such as Greece, Portugal and Russia.

Parenting may involve praise but also punishment. Some parents no longer consider spanking a valuable punishment. The term "child training" implies a specific type of parenting that focuses on holistic understanding of the child.

The "Taking Children Seriously" philosophy sees both praise and punishment as manipulative and harmful to the child and seeks other way to reach agreement with them. The term "attachment parenting" seeks to create strong emotional bonds and avoid physical punishment, with discipline being accommodated by interactions with a child's emotional needs.

During pregnancy the unborn child is affected by many decisions his or her parents make, particularly choices linked to their lifestyle. The health and diet decisions of the mother can have either a positive or negative impact on the child.