parentais

Parentais is an adjective in Portuguese that designates anything related to parents, particularly the father and mother. It is used to refer to the relationship between parents and children, and to matters surrounding upbringing, care, and family life. In everyday language it appears in expressions such as direitos parentais (parental rights), deveres parentais (parental duties), responsabilidade parental, and laços parentais. It can also be found in technical uses such as controle parental (parental control) or suporte parental, though in many contexts people prefer phrases like direitos dos pais or autoridade parental, depending on legal or institutional conventions.

Etymology: It derives from Latin parens, parentis, via the Portuguese adjective parentais, and shares cognates in other Romance languages.

Legal and policy context: In civil and family law, the term marks the bundle of rights and duties that parents have toward their minor children, including decisions about education, health, and general welfare. The exact scope of parental authority or custody arrangements varies by country and jurisdiction, but the concept centers on ensuring the child’s well-being and the child’s best interests.

Social and psychological context: In sociology and psychology, references to parenting practices or estilos parentais describe patterns of interaction between parents and children and their impact on development, such as supportive or disciplinary approaches and family dynamics.

See also: parental rights, parental authority, child custody, parenting styles, family law.