Final answer:
Helena's behavior and characteristics suggest that her parents use an authoritative parenting style, which balances reasonable demands with warmth and understanding, leading to high self-esteem and good social skills in children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disciplinary model that seems to best describe Helena's situation is authoritative parenting. This parenting style embodies the approach where parents set reasonable demands and consistent limits, provide a warm and nurturing environment, and are open to listening to the child's point of view. Helena's characteristics of having high, yet realistic, standards for herself and being popular with her peers suggests her parents provide a balance of guidance and freedom, which is typical of an authoritative parenting style.
Authoritative parents, unlike the authoritarian or permissive ones, set rules and explain the reasons behind them. They are also willing to be flexible in certain circumstances, such as relaxing bedtime rules during a family vacation. This type of parenting has been correlated with higher levels of self-esteem and better social skills in children.