What's in your Parenting Playbook?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Your child has been playing on the iPad for longer than you normally allow. You've decided it is time for the iPad to go away, but your child wants to keep playing. What do you do?

  • A.
    I would give them a 5 minute warning and tell them to put the iPad away, but if they ask for another 5 minutes or keep playing I’ll probably let it slide.
  • B.
    I would tell them that it is time to put the iPad away, and ask them to find a stopping point in the next few minutes so they can feel ready to stop.
  • C.
    Rules are rules. I said it’s time to put the iPad away – so it’s time to put the iPad away. Otherwise I’ll take it away.
  • D.
    I don’t monitor my child’s screen time.
• 2.
  There is an upcoming picnic for your work. It is expected that employees bring their families, but your child is shy and doesn't want to go. How do you handle the situation? 

  • A.
    We'll just stay home.
  • B.
    We’ll make a game plan. I’m expected to go and bring my family, but my child can bring a book or other activity if they aren’t comfortable playing with the other children.
  • C.
    I have to go so they have to go. If they’re not happy they can deal with it.
  • D.
    I’ll just leave them at home. I want to go and I don’t want to deal with them sulking the whole time.
• 3.
  Your child comes home with a student of the month certificate – how do you celebrate? 

  • A.
    I pull out all the stops. They’ve deserved this for so long and I’m so happy they finally get recognized.
  • B.
    I’m proud, but it isn't about me. I ask my child how they feel about the certificate and what they think is an appropriate celebration.
  • C.
    Honestly? I think it's kind of dumb. They’ll give anyone a trophy these days.
  • D.
    It’s nice that they were recognized but I don’t think we need to do anything to celebrate.
• 4.
  You are with your child at a park when you see them being pushed by another child on the playground. How do you intervene?

  • A.
    I’ll remove my child from the situation and make sure other parents know that this child is a bully and they shouldn’t let their kids play with them.
  • B.
    I’ll approach both children and ask if they need help solving their differences. I want my child to be safe but I also want them to practice problem-solving as peers.
  • C.
    I don’t have to intervene because my kid doesn’t get pushed around – they know how to push back.
  • D.
    Tell my child to find something else to do. I really don’t want to deal with any playground injuries today.
• 5.
  You’re still at the playground but this time you see your child push another child on the playground. How do you intervene? 

  • A.
    I’ll tell my child not to hit another child but they probably won’t listen. Kids will be kids I guess.
  • B.
    I would remove my child from the situation and ask them to tell me what happened. Once they’ve calmed down we can decide how to proceed together.
  • C.
    The other kid probably had it coming. I’m glad my child knows how to defend themselves.
  • D.
    They’ll figure it out - kids will be kids, right?
• 6.
  Your child comes home from school with a note from their teacher about a behavior issue during class. How do you address the note with your child?

  • A.
    The teacher is obviously picking on my child. I would ask my child what other issues they’ve had with this teacher and write a note to the teacher to leave my child alone.
  • B.
    I would ask my child to tell me what happened and would determine the best course of action once I hear both sides of the story.
  • C.
    I expect better from my child. They know there are consequences for misbehaving and will be punished accordingly.
  • D.
    If it happened at school then I don’t understand why they’re writing me a note instead of taking care of the problem at school.
• 7.
  Your child and a relative or close family friend are playing when suddenly there is conflict over a toy – how do you handle the situation? 

  • A.
    I would tell the kids it makes me sad to see them fighting and ask them to please stop.
  • B.
    I would get on the same level as the kids and ask them to explain the problem so that we can come up with a solution together.
  • C.
    I would take the toy and send the kids to separate rooms. If you can’t play nicely you don’t get to play.
  • D.
    I would tell the kids to quiet down and close the door so I don’t have to hear the conflict. They’ll figure it out.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Permissive

  As a permissive parent, you are usually very loving and nurturing, but your home doesn't have much when it comes to rules or structure. Your children are rarely disciplined, and when you try, they tend to ignore you or wear you down. You love your child and want what is best for them, but you have to remember that sometimes structure is what's best. Children of permissive parents tend to exhibit poor decision making skills, poor time management, and a lower tolerance for stress or hardship.Check your email to download the Mindful-Ish™ Parenting Style Guide and learn how a Mindful-Ish™ approach to parenting can help you add a little more structure to your permissive parenting style.
• 2.
  Authoritative

  As an authoritative parent, you know how to be firm and fair. You are not afraid for your child to question your authority and encourage discussions, partnering with your child in problem solving. Children of authoritative parents tend to be socially and emotionally well-rounded with high levels of confidence and the ability to self-regulate in emotional situations. Check your email to download the Mindful-Ish™ Parenting Style guide and learn more about how to be an Authoritative parent (and be Mindful-Ish™).
• 3.
  Authoritarian

  As an authoritarian parent, you place very high expectations on your children and enforce rules that are expected to be followed without question. You love your children so much and want to see them live to every potential and succeed. But, sometimes your expectations can be difficult for your child to live up to. Because they are under so much pressure to meet expectations, children raised by authoritarian parents can exhibit people pleasing behavior, low self-esteem, and difficulty setting their own limits because they’ve always had to follow rules without question.Having an authoritarian parenting style doesn’t make you a bad parent, but it does leave room for improvement when it comes to setting boundaries, explaining rules, and trusting your children to make the right decision on their own sometimes. Check your email for a link to download the Mindful-Ish™ Parenting Style Guide and learn more about Authoritarian parenting, and the little shifts you can make to have a more Mindful-Ish™ approach.
• 4.
  Uninvolved

  As an uninvolved parent, you generally display little to no interest in your children’s lives. “You’re on your own,” is basically your parenting philosophy and, while you have few rules or expectations of your child/ren – you also provide very little affection, support, or love. Whether you are too overwhelmed with your own problems to interact with your children or were raised by an uninvolved parent yourself, you express little interest in your children’s lives.Children raised by uninvolved parents are more likely to have difficulty forming attachments later in life, be anxious or stressed due to lack of family support, and have an increased risk of substance abuse later in life. The good news is if you’re taking this quiz – you’re probably not an uninvolved parent! The way we react to being busy, giving children freedom, or adjusting to a new stage of life can sometimes come across as uninvolved, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love our children. Check your email for a link to download the Mindful-Ish™ Parenting Style Guide and learn more about the other three parenting styles. Or, take the quiz again to see if you can get a different result!