Children with involved parents do better in school, feel better about themselves, are less likely to develop emotional problems and are less likely to take risks or get into trouble.

It does not matter whether your child is an infant, a teenager, or at any point in between. There is nothing more important to your child’s psychological development than your deep and sustained involvement.

There are times when we all wonder if we are enough or perhaps too involved in our child’s life. This is your chance to find out how you compare. In doing the test it is important to remember that being a parent is a process and no parent is perfect. Complete this quiz adapted from www.familyeducation.com.

Questions

1. Your child’s teacher is sharing his or her concern regarding your child’s progress at school. You:
A. Listen, but do not really pay attention
B. Have noticed there are problems, but were just too busy to attend to them. You share the concern and ask for help
C. Don’t understand how this could have happened. You help your child almost every night with his or her homework and know everything that is going on at his or her school

2. Your child joined a new sport team this season. You:
A. Drop your child off and pick him or her up from practises and games when you need to, but he or she usually gets a ride with a teammate’s parents
B. Try to attend as many games as your busy schedule allows
C. Attend every single game and most practises

3. When your child gets home from school, and/or you get home from work, he or she:
A. Spends all of the time in his or her room on his or her own
B. Shares a few minutes with you before you are off attending to other things
C. Has your full attention for a while

4. Do you know your child’s friends?
A. You have no idea
B. You know a few of his or her friends
C. You know the names of all his or her friends

5. How does your child deal with problems?
A. He or she keeps everything to him- or herself
B. He or she sometimes share issues with you and then you offer advice
C. He or she shares everything with you

6. How does your family spend the weekends?
A. The adults and children in our family do not really do anything together
B. Your weekends are quite busy, but you try to find some family time together
C. The whole weekend is planned around doing things together as a family

7. Do you know what your child wants to be when he or she grows up?
A. No, we have never talked about it
B. We talk about it sometimes, but it’s hard to keep up with his or her ever-changing mind.
C. I know exactly what he or she wants to do one day

8. What is your child’s favourite dinner?
A. I have no idea what his or her favourite food is
B. I know he or she likes a few foods, but I am not sure which one he or she likes best
C. I know exactly what my child’s favourite food is

9. Your child goes to a birthday party where he or she doesn’t know anyone except the birthday child. You:
A. Drop your child off as he or she will be able to sort things out
B. Talk to your child beforehand and give advice on how to handle the situation
C. Call the birthday child’s parents and try to arrange something to make it easier for your child

10. Your child is going on a school camp. What is your reaction?
A. You cannot wait to be child-free for a few days
B. You are sad. You’ll miss him or her, but you know it will be a good experience
C. Panic. You have planned a lot of things the family could have done during this time

Results

If most of your answers are A

Your child needs you; you need to become more involved in your child’s life, even if you have to cut back on your own activities. Try setting time aside daily for one-on-one time with your child.

If most of your answers are B

You’re a very busy parent, but you try your best to stay involved in your child’s life. Take every opportunity to let you child know that he or she is important to you. Don’t let your schedule always take priority!

If most of your answers are C

Your child knows he or she can count on you to be his or her biggest supporter. However, you need to keep in mind that independence is a good trait to have too. Give your child every opportunity to develop it.

 

Sources

www.familyeducation.com