Think You're A Good Parent? Pass This Quiz To Prove It!

You may have once thought that as soon as you started a family the rest of your life would somehow be put on hold; that everything else would suddenly become easier because everyone knew you had a baby at home. Unfortunately, everyone that’s had a kid knows that that is absolutely not the case. Not only is being a parent hard enough work on its own, but you suddenly discover that money is tighter than it’s ever been, you no longer have any time for yourself, and you're truly astounded at the amount of sleep you actually need to survive.

In fact, being a parent in today’s super fast paced society can be such a grind, that you become so preoccupied with surviving the day that you don’t even have time to consider if you’re actually being a good parent.

Hopefully, before you ever had a child you and your significant other were able to accurately assess whether or not you’d be responsible parents in the first place. But even if you deemed yourselves ready to start a family, thinking about raising a child and actually raising one are two separate things entirely.

So, let’s find out if you’re actually at the top of your parenting game, or if you need to put a little more effort into the rearing of your offspring.

Question 1

What’s your go-to form of punishment when your child misbehaves?

It’s a fact of life that your child is going to misbehave. It’s unavoidable, which means the only thing that you do have control over is how you choose to react to it. It’s important to teach your child that actions have consequences, and if everything just goes back to normal after a 10-minute screaming match, then they may start to think misbehaving isn’t really that bad.

Question 2

When someone texts you, do you immediately stop paying attention to your child to look at your phone?

These days, it seems like your smartphone is actively trying to distract you. It alerts you from everything to text messages to new Youtube videos to birthdays of people you haven’t seen in over a decade. So it's important to not become a slave to your smartphone, especially when there’s a living, breathing human in the same room that needs far more attention.

Question 3

Do you regularly snoop through your child’s belongings even when they haven’t done anything wrong?

It’s tempting to go through your kid’s stuff -- it is your house after all. But barging into your kid’s room without knocking, or flipping through their diary when they’re out of the house is a huge invasion of privacy. It’s one thing if your child’s attitude has taken a turn for the worst, but if they haven’t done anything wrong, it’s important to give them their space.

Question 4

At what age would you allow your child to have a cell phone?

Parents used to have to worry about spoiling their kids with piles upon piles of toys. But these days, it seems like kids are increasingly interested in getting only one toy: a smartphone. In this fast-paced world, there’s a good chance that you’ll have to get your kid a phone before they reach high school, but that still doesn’t mean the sooner is always the better.

Question 5

Do you push your kid to be the best, or try their hardest?

It’s inevitable that you’re going to want your kid to be the best in everything that they try, but pushing them harder, especially from such a young age, is never a good idea. Encouraging them to try their hardest is definitely the way to go. After all, they can’t do anything less than work as hard as they can, and if that still results in them not being the greatest in the world, then so be it.

Question 6

How often do you spank your child?

Though spanking was widely considered an acceptable form of punishment in the past, it’s been the center of a heated topic for the latest generations of parents. While most experts agree that there are by far better ways to discipline most children, some agree that if it’s an action that needs to be stopped immediately — like walking into the street or touching a hot stove — then spanking could be warranted.

Question 7

Do you give your child a set of daily/ weekly chores?

We all know that going to work day after day is usually a terrible endeavor, but it’s also a necessary part of life if you ever want to buy yourself a house or eat three meals a day. Therefore, it’s important that you start teaching your child this type of responsibility from an early age, which should start with some simple around the house chores.

Question 8

Do you curse in front of your child on a regular basis?

You may be a parent, but you’re still human, and it’s inevitable that you’re going to let out a few choice four-letter words in their vicinity at some point. But there’s a big difference between letting one slip out after stubbing your toe and yelling at your significant other from across the house. Chances are, if they see you making a habit out of cursing, they definitely will too.

Question 9

Do you fight with your partner in front of your child?

If you’ve been in a relationship long enough to parent a child, you know full well that fights with your partner can literally come out of anywhere. Though it’s a normal part of any relationship, it’s important that you also know how to turn a disagreement into a constructive conversation. And more importantly, that you don’t have these heated arguments in front of your child on a regular basis.

Question 10

Have you ever hit your child with an object other than your hand?

While some experts agree that spanking can still be useful to stop your child from doing something that’s immediately putting them into danger — like running into the street — pretty much everyone agrees that hitting your kid with an object is a huge no-no. In fact, this type of punishment will likely only result in your child acting out more in the future.

Question 11

Do you insist that your child must give you the password to all of their social media accounts?

Of course, you’ll want to set an age for when you actually allow your child to venture into the world of social media. But once you allow them to have an account, do you think they should have to hand over their password so you can constantly check in on them? While this may seem like a smart idea up front, it also shows an overall lack of trust in your relationship with your child.

Question 12

Do you smoke around your child?

King of the Hill Hank smoking

While smoking isn’t good for anyone, adults are absolutely free to do with their bodies whatever they chose. But if you’re a smoker that has children, then your habit definitely has to take a back seat to your child’s health. It’s no secret that breathing in smoke isn’t just bad when it’s happening, but that it can also lead to prolonged health problems, including a weakened immune system and asthma.

Question 13

At what age would you let your kid watch a rated-R movie?

80sPosterQuiz Poltergiest

With the number of movies that are now available online, it’s getting harder and harder to keep your child from watching something that they shouldn’t. While most parents will let their kids sit through a PG-13 movie before they’re actually a teenager, there’s a much wider range of content that they could see in an R-rated movie.

Question 14

After a heated argument, do you set a good example and apologize first?

For most adults, apologizing remains one of the hardest things to do sincerely, which is likely a result of adults not setting the best example for us when growing up. Even if your kid was the one that did something wrong, even just apologizing for losing your cool during an argument can leave a lasting impression, making it far more likely for your child to be able to admit their own faults the next time around.

Question 15

Do you consider yourself your child’s best friend?

Surprisingly, these days the problem that many children have is actually a result of overparenting, rather than being neglected. These are the types of parents that do everything with their children, which inevitably turns them into a friend rather than a guardian or a role model, which is what you should be striving for.

Question 16

Do you have a cut and dry set of rules that you expect your child to follow?

Having a set of rules that your child has to follow makes thing much easier when it comes to having to discipline them. Unfortunately, most parents want to believe that their toddlers will never start acting out, meaning that when they do misbehave, they might not even know it, and in turn, you might have a harder time sticking to a set punishment.

Question 17

Do you ever try to use your child as a pawn to win an argument with your husband/wife/ex?

With divorce becoming more and more commonplace, it’s important that you’re still able to parent your child appropriately even if things have taken a turn for the worst in your relationship. Using a child as a pawn may help you win them over in the short run, but once they grow up, they may learn to resent you for using them as a bargaining chip.

Question 18

Do you have privacy settings on your computer so you child can’t access adult content?

By far, one of the most dangerous objects in your house that your kids can get a hand on these days is the computer. Without supervision, your kid could literally be looking at anything. And we mean anything. Therefore, it’s best to supervise your child’s computer time when they’re young and pay for some of those trusty site-blockers while you’re at it.

Question 19

Do you encourage your kid to pursue what they want, or push them to do what you think is best?

Easily one of the most common mistakes to make as a parent is to think that your child is a little version of yourself. You want them to be interested in the things you were interested, and to be more successful at them than you were. But chances are, they’re going to like someone totally different along the way, which you will hopefully learn to accept and support.

Question 20

If you found out your child was gay, how would you react?

Luckily, it’s getting easier and easier for kids to be able to express who they really are at a young age. Pop culture has shone a favorable light on nerdom and different forms of sexuality over the last decade, meaning that bullies now have fewer things to target. But how would you react if you ever found out that your child wasn’t straight?

Question 21

So long as they do their chores, get good grades, and don’t misbehave, do you pretty much allow your children to do whatever they want?

As we’ve already touched upon, many parents these days are way too involved in every second of their children’s lives. Childhood should be about discipline, but also about spontaneity, and so long as your child is well behaved and does what is asked of them, they still need downtime to hang with their friends and figure out what they actually enjoy doing.

Question 22

How many times a week do you have a sit-down dinner with your family?

family dinner

Despite all of these fancy new devices that are supposed to make our lives easier, things are beginning to feel more hectic than ever these days, and one of the first things to be sacrificed is often family dinner. While everyone will inevitably be living by a different schedule, it’s still important to actually catch up with each other as a family unit at least a few times a week.

Question 23

When they were young, did you make an effort to read to your kids before bed?

Instilling a love for reading is one of the greatest and easiest things you can do for your child. Unfortunately, many people stop reading as soon as they’re done with schooling. But instilling a habit of reading before going to bed can be a lifelong gift to your kids, which will also help but them quietly drift off to sleep for the rest of the evening. Win-win.

Question 24

If you found a stash of pot in your teenager's room, what would you do?

Chances are that you did a bit of underage drinking and smoking when you were growing up. And you turned out just fine, right? But for whatever reason, when parents find that their teenage kids are doing the same thing they absolutely lose it. So be sure to collect yourself before a possible confrontation with your teenager, or you run the risk of shutting them out for good.

Question 25

You found out your child threw a party when you were out of town, what would you do?

High school parties are inevitable and something that you will have to come to accept, so long as they don’t happen at your house. But just when you thought you could trust your teenager, they go and throw a rager while you’re out of town for the weekend. So what would you do as soon as you got back?

Question 26

If you find out your child is being bullied at school, you would…

While public school often gets a bad rap, it’s often the place that your kids will learn to negotiate real-world situations with their peers. Pretty much everyone will have to face off against a bully at some point in their life, and so long as that bully isn’t absolutely ruining your child’s life, it’s not always a bad idea to let them try to negotiate the situation before you swoop in to the rescue.

Question 27

How many hours a day does your child spend staring at a screen?

Just as it’s important to assign your kids daily and weekly chores, it’s not a bad idea to lay some ground rules when it comes to using the internet and phone. Staring at a screen all day isn’t just bad for their health, it can also result in a breakdown in social skills. So the more you can encourage getting your kids outside and interacting with others, the better.

Question 28

Have you ever insulted your child?

Whether it be your taste in music or your fashion sense, it’s inevitable that your kids are going to tease you — a lot. And while it’s fine to tease them back on occasion, you certainly wouldn’t be setting a good example by seriously insulting them during a heated argument. Not only will your kids lose the trust they had in you, they’ll also go on to act out your bad behavior.

Question 29

If your child asks you for help with their homework, you…

If you thought you were done with school work as soon as your graduated college, you are sadly mistaken. Having a child is like going through school all over again, and while you may have no problem helping them with their work when they’re still in elementary, you may be shocked at how little you remember when they start asking you for help with their high school math homework.

Question 30

What’s your favorite thing to do with your children?

Of course, people wouldn’t have kids if it was all hard work, and even during the difficult teenage years, there’s bound to be a few things that you and your children can enjoy together. So do you enjoy making dinner with them by your side? Going on a fun-filled family vacation? Or cutting loose with your kids during a house party?

Question 31

Have you ever called your child a name during a fight?

Name calling is an inherently childish thing to do, so don’t be surprised if your kid hurls an insulting term at you when you’re trying to dole out their punishment. However, it's paramount that you don’t stoop down to their level. Much of being a parent is setting the right example through your actions, and the last thing you want your child doing is copying any name calling you may be guilty of.

Question 32

How often do you tell your child you love them?

You probably think that it goes without saying, but verbally expressing your love for your child is something that many parents don’t do enough. Not only will this make your relationship with your kids stronger, it will also show them how to better put their feelings into words, which is something that is desperately lacking in our text-message society.

Question 33

How often do you hug your child?

Family Hugging Inside Out

It may be a cliched phrase, but actions definitely do speak louder than words. Sometimes telling your kids that you love them isn’t enough. After all, it takes far more effort to give them a hug or cook them a healthy dinner than it does to utter a simple three-word sentence. So how often do you embrace your children?

Question 34

Do you believe in punishment or discipline?

You may think that both of these words mean the same exact thing, but there’s a pretty big difference between doling out punishment and giving your children discipline. Discipline helps enforce the idea that set actions will have set consequences, which means that your child should know beforehand what to expect if they act out.

Question 35

Do you cook healthy food for dinner or order out?

With a drive-thru pretty much on every corner these days, it’s so tempting to forgo the grocery store and skip cooking altogether. But if your kids grow up eating fast food, they’re going to continue eating it into adulthood, which will eventually wreak havoc on their health. Ordering out every once in a while is fine, but it’s your responsibility as a parent to promote healthy eating habits when your children are young.

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