Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super are multi-generational shows that allow audiences to watch characters grow up, with many of them having children. We see parents in Dragon Ball Z start with awkwardness and uncertainty, only to grow into their roles over time. Alternatively, some prove to be incompetent parents.
Taking the entire Dragon Ball franchise into account -- yes, even Dragon Ball GT and other non-canon content -- it becomes clear who are the good parents, mediocre ones and horrendous ones. By looking at all the core fighters who joined the Z Fighters with children -- yes, even Frieza -- we can determine which of the Z Fighters are the best and worst parents.
These Dragon Ball Parents Are Just Bad
Dragon Ball Z has no shortage of bad parents, and Frieza's family is full of terrible parenting. While not as awful as his father, Frieza is negligent even if his son Kuriza only exists in the non-canon Neko Majin Z and Super Dragon Ball Heroes continuity. Still, that doesn't change the fact that Kuriza is Frieza's son, and we never see the two interact at any point. In Super Dragon Ball Heroes, Cooler is more of a father figure to Kuriza than Frieza.
The question is if Frieza counts as a Z Fighter? While he's certainly a villain, he joins the other Z Fighters during the Tournament of Power. Ergo, he's a Z Fighter, if only for that one arc. This makes Frieza a relatively easy contender for the worst parent among the Z Fighters for this reason.
That is not to say Frieza is the worst parent in Dragon Ball. He's just the only Z Fighter who is a truly garbage parent -- even if Kuriza exists outside the canon. After all, Goku also has some pretty terrible father figures. While they aren't strictly speaking Z Fighters, Bardock and Grandpa Gohan are pretty lackluster father figures. However, Bardock in Dragon Ball Super was retconned to be a gentler man who, alongside his partner Leek, wanted the best for Goku. Grandpa Gohan just absolutely failed to prepare Goku for the real world, despite loving him. However, as neither fought alongside Goku, saving the world, they do not count.
Dragon Ball's Decent Parents - With Problems
Master Roshi is a parental figure to both Goku and Krillin during Dragon Ball, and as such, he's not a good influence. He surrounds his students with pornographic material and teaches them horrible life lessons. However, he does deeply love Goku and Krillin as if they were his sons. He shows great pride watching them grow up into men, and while he has problems, at least he helped raise his students like a father.
Gohan and Videl are odd because, depending on the continuity, they're either inexperienced parents or bad ones. Granted, Dragon Ball Super has only just begun to explore Pan's childhood, and so far, Gohan and Videl seem to be caring parents. However, unless Dragon Ball Super goes out of its way to showcase how Gohan isn't as bad a parent in this canon as he was in Dragon Ball GT, then he and Videl are going to rank pretty low.
Dragon Ball GT sparks off because Pan stows away on Goku and Trunks's spaceship. Granted, Pan is ten years old, but why would Gohan not keep an eye on his daughter around vehicles traveling to different worlds? It's telling how, even when Pan does return home, Goku is more of a presence in her life than her immediate parents.
Then, there's Vegeta. He isn't a bad parent, but his parenting style often puts him at odds with Trunks. Undeniably, Vegeta loves his children and demonstrates this throughout the series. However, his often abrasive style of showing affection can be a little intense. This is especially evident when he's with Future Trunks, though we see shades of his intense side during the Buu Saga too. Vegeta's problem is that he has to learn how to be a loving parent, and that's not something that comes naturally to him.
Let's Talk About Goku and Chi-Chi
Goku and Chi-Chi are good parents with a few big problems in their parenting styles. They both love their children and try to offer what's best for them. Chi-Chi can be a little intense with forcing Gohan to study, but she undeniably does it because she wants what's best for her son. She also adjusts her style for Goten, demonstrating typical "younger sibling gets away with more" parenting.
The long-running joke that Goku is a terrible father is highly reductive and misleading. It exists because fans exaggerate Goku's worst traits as a father to the exclusion of the good. Yes, Goku is absent in Gohan's life, sometimes avoidably so. However, he also clearly wants to support Gohan's academic pursuits -- he just doesn't know how to. The films, however, show Goku taking Gohan out camping and trying to help him get into good schools when not training or fighting.
Dragon Ball's Greatest Parents
Krillin and 18 are hard to place because the show spends very little time detailing their parenting style. Krillin undeniably goes out of his way to support his family financially, while 18 seems very affectionate toward Marron. During the Universe of Power Arc, we see how 18 is far more supportive of Marron's capabilities, while Krillin is more the cautious father type.
On the other hand, Bulma and Mr. Satan both are great parents for the same reason. They are both extraordinary wealthy people and use their wealth to pamper and spoil their kids. However, they also empathize and care for their children. While Bulma proves more a disciplinarian than Mr. Satan, both push their kids on the right path while prioritizing their happiness and needs.
However, the best parent in Dragon Ball is easily Piccolo. Of course, Piccolo functions more as a surrogate father since he essentially kidnapped Gohan after killing Goku and Raditz. But while they start on the wrong foot, Piccolo becomes a father figure when Goku is dead and supports Gohan throughout his life.
What makes Piccolo so incredible is that, while he is stern, he is one of the first people to recognize and respect Gohan's potential on the boy's terms. Goku knows his son is amazing but pushes him in ways that make him uncomfortable. Piccolo wants him to succeed but has Gohan's interests at heart. He even steps into the role of a grandfather for Pan before Goku in Super.
