What is Your Parenting Style? Take this Quiz to Find Out

1. Your child comes home from school upset because they received a low grade on a test. How do you react?

a) Criticize and scold them for not studying enough.
b) Comfort them and help them come up with a plan to improve their grades.
c) Brush it off and tell them not to worry about it.

2. Your child wants to try a new activity or hobby that you’re not familiar with. How do you respond?

a) Discourage them and suggest they stick to something you know.
b) Encourage them to try something new and support their decision.
c) Tell them that it doesn’t matter to you one way or the other and that they can do what they want. 

3. Your child is having a disagreement with a friend. How do you handle the situation?

a) Tell them what to do and resolve the conflict for them.
b) Guide them through problem-solving and encourage open communication.
c) Ignore the issue and let them figure it out on their own.

4. Your child refuses to eat their vegetables at dinner. How do you handle it?

a) Force them to eat the vegetables and punish them if they don’t comply.
b) Offer alternative healthy options and encourage them to try new foods.
c) Let them eat whatever they want and give in to their preferences.

5. Your child breaks a valuable item by accident. How do you react?

a) Yell and scold them for being careless.
b) Use it as a teaching moment (i.e., guide them to clean up and replace the item if possible).
c) Just forget about it and clean up the mess when you get around to it.

6. Your child wants to stay out past their curfew. How do you respond?

a) Set strict rules and punish them if they disobey.
b) Discuss the importance of curfew and negotiate a compromise.
c) Allow them to come home whenever they like.

7. Your child is struggling with a school project. How do you offer assistance?

a) Take over and complete the project for them.
b) Provide guidance and support, while they work on the project.
c) Let them handle it entirely on their own without any involvement.

8. Your child wants to try a new sport, but you’re concerned about the commitment. How do you approach it?

a) Discourage them and suggest they stick to their current activities.
b) Research the sport together and discuss the commitment involved.
c) Agree to their decision without considering the potential challenges.

Interpreting the Results

8 to 14 points: Authoritative Parenting Style. You tend to balance rules and discipline with warmth and support. You provide guidance and expectations while encouraging independence and individuality.

15 to 21 points: Authoritarian Parenting Style. Your parenting style leans towards strict rules and high expectations. You may be less responsive to your child’s needs and opinions, focusing more on obedience and discipline.

22 to 24 points: Permissive Parenting Style. Your approach is characterized by a lack of structure and rules. You may prioritize your child’s happiness and freedom over setting boundaries and enforcing consequences.

The authoritative parenting style, characterized by a balance of warmth, support, and reasonable discipline, tends to have the most positive outcomes for children. It fosters emotional well-being, academic success, and social competence.

 

The authoritarian style, with its strict rules and low responsiveness, may lead to lower self-esteem and poorer social skills.

 

The permissive style, characterized by a lack of structure and discipline, may result in difficulties with self-control and responsibility.