What is the Parental Identity Development Model?

The Parental Identity Development Model (PID Model) is a 9-stage developmental model where at each stage of development the parent must complete a task in order for them to achieve competency, confidence, and a healthy self-image of their parenting identity.

The 9-Stage PID Model:

• Pregnancy (Nesting)

  • This stage is concerned with creating a space (physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, etc.) for the humans that will be a part of the family.

• Infancy (Learning)

  • This stage is concerned with learning what it means to be human (how to walk, talk, do, be).

• Toddler (Adapting)

  • This stage is concerned with adapting to the parent you are (versus the one you wanted to be) while also accepting the child you have

• School-Age (Exploring)

  • This stage is concerned with recognizing the influence of the world on parenting identity as the child is also beginning to do the same

• Tween (Questioning)

  • This stage is concerned with questioning what is and helping both parent and child developmentally appropriate detach from one another's identities

• Teen (Role-playing)

  • This stage is concerned with developing a safe space for the parent and teen to role-play real-life roles

• Young Adult (Launching)

  • This stage is concerned with launching and letting go, evaluating the tools given, and trusting the foundation that was laid

• Adult (Rediscovering)

  • This stage is concerned with working on an identity that does not include caregiving

• Parenting Age Adults (Sharing)

  • This stage is concerned with sharing what you’ve learned and moving into a shared caregiving experience