For people with the ENFP personality type (Campaigners), one of the great joys of parenthood is sharing their sense of wonder and inspiration with their children. Few things feel more rewarding to ENFP parents than seeing their child light up with curiosity about the world around them, take steps to discover how things work, and use their knowledge to help make society better. These parents do not merely want their children to survive in the world – they want to inspire them to change it.

ENFP parents also work hard to ensure that their children feel accepted and worthy just as they are. Rather than pressuring their children to look or act a certain way, these personalities encourage their children’s creativity and self-expression. Drawing on their own ingenuity and creativity, ENFP parents guide their children to discover and embrace their unique passions and interests.

Balancing Love and Discipline

Striking the right balance between respecting their children’s autonomy and enforcing discipline can sometimes be a challenge for ENFP parents due to their strong affinity for harmony and individual freedom. They might not always have the heart (or, as they may see it, the lack of heart) to enforce the rules and restrictions needed to provide structure and reinforce important boundaries. These personalities often worry that if they’re too strict a disciplinarian, they’ll compromise the loving bond that they have with their children.

With time, however, many people with the ENFP personality type discover that having just enough structure can actually help their children thrive. Once they recognize this, these parents often learn to set guidelines in a way that’s loving but firm. In this light, enforcing appropriate rules can become yet another way that ENFP personalities express just how much they love and care for their children.

ENFPs tend to radiate acceptance and compassion. As parents, they aim to become confidants who their children can open up to without fear of judgment. People with this personality type excel at creating safe spaces where their children can feel comfortable talking about their frustrations and their fears as well as their dearest hopes and dreams.

Go On, Spread Your Wings

Throughout their children’s lives, ENFP personalities provide their kids with an almost overwhelming amount of love and support. But as children mature into adolescence, they naturally feel drawn to establish their independence. They may spend more time with their friends than with their family or experiment with views and ideas that are radically different from their parents’.

Although they love the idea of their children becoming independent, ENFPs may sometimes feel that their children are pushing them away – something that can be profoundly hurtful for these personalities. They may be free spirits, but ENFPs are also sensitive to others’ feelings and expectations, and they may struggle not to take their children’s behavior personally.

Fortunately, ENFPs’ compassion can help them understand and honor their children’s needs through every stage of development. Parents with this personality type have the wonderful ability to meet their children exactly where they are. This can help their children develop a strong sense of self and self-worth, enabling them to venture confidently out into the big, wide world, knowing that they have both themselves and their ENFP parent to depend on.