Responsive parenting assumes that every person – regardless of their age –– is of equal value. So instead of raising children from above, parents guide their children at eye level. They define clear, necessary boundaries - e.g. in terms of safety, health and social interaction - or "guard rails" between which their child can develop freely. However, the responsibility remains with the parents.

As the name suggests, reposive or responsive parenting focuses on "needs". Children never deliberately act against their parents, but always "for themselves". This means that their behavior always has a reason and is an expression of an inner need. The distinction between wants and needs is important here. A wish is not a necessity, but something you would like to have or a learned strategy to satisfy a certain need. Needs, on the other hand, are always based on a genuine necessity.

The aim of rersponsive parenting is to recognize or, in the best case, even anticipate the child's needs and respond to them. However, the needs of all those involved play a role, which is why a child does not "get everything it wants" (especially as we are back to wishes here), but rather an attempt is made to reconcile the needs of parents, child, possibly siblings etc. as well as possible to reach a compromise.