Multi Tab Questionnaire

Stage 1: Image-Making (Pre-birth)

1. I actively prepare mentally and emotionally for parenting.

2. I avoid thinking about parenting responsibilities before birth.

3. I discuss parenting expectations with my partner.

4. I feel disconnected from becoming a parent.

5. I seek information about parenting and development.

6. I rarely consider how parenting will change my life.

Stage 2: Nurturing (Birth to 2 years)

1. I respond warmly and promptly to my baby.

2. I often delay responding to my baby’s needs.

3. I enjoy physical closeness with my infant.

4. I feel overwhelmed and avoid interacting with my baby.

5. I create a secure and comforting environment for my baby.

6. I find bonding with my baby difficult.

Stage 3: Authority (2 to 5 years)

1. I set clear and consistent rules that my young child understands.

2. I calmly follow through when my child breaks a rule.

3. I explain simple reasons behind rules in ways my child can understand.

4. I often lose patience and punish harshly without explanation.

5. I let my child do whatever they want without boundaries.

6. I sometimes give in to my child’s demands to avoid conflict.

Stage 4: Interpretive (5 to 12 years)

1. I encourage my child to share their opinions and feelings openly.

2. I help my child understand why rules and family values are important.

3. I involve my child in problem-solving and decision-making appropriate to their age.

4. I often make decisions for my child without explaining my reasons.

5. I tend to ignore my child's feelings or dismiss their views.

6. I rarely talk with my child about fairness or personal responsibility.

Stage 5: Interdependent (Adolescence)

1. I negotiate rules with my teen ensuring fairness and accountability.

2. I impose strict rules without teen input.

3. I respect my teen’s growing independence.

4. I criticise or control my teen often.

5. I listen actively to my teen.

6. I avoid teen discussions.

Stage 6: Departure (Early Adulthood)

1. I support my adult child’s decisions, especially when they have discussed them with me or when they are not harmful.

2. I withdraw from involvement in my adult child’s life.

3. I maintain a trusting and respectful relationship with my adult child.

4. I sometimes overstep by interfering in my adult child’s decisions, even when they are capable of deciding for themselves.

5. I encourage my child’s independence while maintaining our connection.

6. I find it challenging to fully accept my child’s independence.

Know Your Parenting Style Quiz

Based on Ellen Galinsky’s Six Stages of Parenthood

Introduction

Parenting is a journey of growth – for children and parents alike. The way we parent influences our children’s development as well as our own well-being.
This quiz invites you to reflect on your parenting experiences across six stages of parenthood, as identified by Ellen Galinsky, a leading child development researcher. There are no right or wrong answers. The questions are designed to support self- awareness and reflection, recognising that parenting looks different for every family and can change over time.

The Six Stages of Parenthood

Stage 1: Image-Making (Pre-birth)
This early stage involves preparing mentally and emotionally for parenthood. Parents create images in their minds about what it means to be a parent and start to imagine the changes their life will undergo. This is a time of anticipation and adjustment.
Stage 2: Nurturing (Birth to 2 years)
From birth through toddlerhood, parents focus on forming a strong attachment with their child. They adapt to the demands of caring for a fully dependent baby and work to balance their own needs with the responsibilities of nurturing.
Stage 3: Authority (2 to 5 years)
During this stage, parents establish rules and boundaries as their child begins testing limits. They face the challenge of defining their authority and guiding their child’s behaviour with consistency and patience.
Stage 4: Interpretive (5 to 12 years)
As children enter school age, parents help them interpret their growing experiences in the larger social world, including school and friendships. Parents support learning social norms, values, and problem-solving skills while encouraging independence.
Stage 5: Interdependent (Adolescence)
Parents and teenagers renegotiate their relationship. Authority becomes more shared as teens seek independence while parents continue providing guidance. Negotiating rules and balances between control and autonomy becomes key.
Stage 6: Departure (Early adulthood)
Parents support their young adult children as they transition toward full independence. This stage involves reevaluating the parental role while nurturing a respectful and trusting adult relationship.

How the Quiz Works

  • The quiz contains statements about your parenting behaviours related to each of these six stages.
  • Each statement is rated on a scale from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) based on how often it describes your parenting style.
  • You may choose to answer only the stage(s) relevant to your child’s age or developmental stage, or answer all stages.
  • Your answers will generate individual scores and feedback for each completed stage to help understand your parenting strengths and areas for growth.

Scoring Guide

  • Scores near 5 indicate strong alignment with effective parenting practices for that stage.
  • Scores near 1 highlight areas where you might consider new approaches to better support your child’s growth.

Quiz Questions

Journey Through All 6 Stages
Reflect on 1 or More Stage(s)
Stage 1: Image-Making (Pre-birth)
Stage 2: Nurturing (Birth to 2 years)
Stage 3: Authority (2 to 5 years)
Stage 4: Interpretive (5 to 12 years)
Stage 5: Interdependent (Adolescence)
Stage 6: Departure (Early Adulthood)