Parenting Style Quiz: Are You A Tiger, Dolphin, Or Jellyfish Parent?

Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each of us handles situations in our own way. This quick and fun quiz is designed to help you discover your natural parenting style.

Simply choose the response that feels closest to what you would normally do. No right or wrong answers, just helpful insights to understand yourself better and strengthen your connection with your child.

The Quiz

1. It's the weekend, and your child is excited to spend time with you. But you are unwell. What would you do?

A) You tell them to go and play.

B) You tell them you want to sleep, let them do what they want.

C) You say you're sick and ask for some time to rest.

2. Your child asks to go out and play with her friends, and you see that her room is a mess.

A) You tell your child to clean the room first. You check the room thoroughly before you send them to play.

B) You let it be. It is her room after all.

C) You clean twenty per cent of the room and ask her to come back and clean the remaining eighty per cent.

3. At the supermarket, your child asks for chocolate, so you buy one. Your child shouts, cries, and persists so that you'll give in and buy some more.

A) You say you'll leave them with the security guard and go home without them.

B) You buy more chocolates to avoid the embarrassment.

C) You let them know their behavior is not acceptable, and if it continues, you'll have to leave the store right away.

4. You have plenty of household work to complete.

A) You make your child recite poems and maths tables while you work. You can't let time go to waste.

B) You let your child watch television till you complete all the work.

C) You ask your child to help you with tasks they know how to do.

5. Your child is a picky eater, prefers fried foods, and refuses to eat vegetables every day. 

A) You don't let them leave the table till they finish the home-cooked meal.

B) You offer shallow-fried food since it's healthier than deep-fried food.

C) You insist that they eat the food served at the table and offer fried foods two days a week.

6. You're preparing a sweet dish, and you tell your child not to eat the cashew nuts because there won't be enough.  But they're all over within five minutes. You see bits and pieces stuck in and around your child's mouth. 

A) You send your child straight out of the kitchen and say they won't be getting any of the sweet dish.

B) You immediately take a picture of your cute child and post it on social media.

C) You tell them what they did was not helpful and ask for a solution, and work out how else to make the sweet dish.

7. Your child wants a pet lizard. 

A) You say a firm 'NO' and end the conversation.

B) You get them one immediately. Anything to keep them quiet.

C) You ask them why they want one, and then offer an alternative.

8. Your child brings home colorful stationery from school. When you ask where it is from, they insist that you bought it. 

A) You scold them for lying and punish them for stealing.

B) You blame yourself for forgetting, and let them keep the stationery.

C) You explain why taking other people's belongings isn't nice, and tell them to ask you the next time they want something.

9. You hang a painting in the living room. Your child climbs up the sofa and scribbles on it. 

A) You take away the crayons and say they're not getting them back.

B) You let it be. You do not want to deal with reasoning with your child.

C) You let them know that you are upset and tell them where they can draw and color in the house.

10. Your child wants to invite their friend for a sleepover on a Friday night. 

A) You tell them that friends are not allowed at home for sleepovers and that they can spend the time studying instead.

B) You agree and let them do what they want. As long as your child does not trouble you on a Friday night, you're okay with it.

C) You agree because the next day is a holiday. Together, you plan for the sleepover.

Now that you're done, it's time to check the analysis below to know your parenting style.

If you chose mostly As: You're a Tiger parent: 

• You are a strict parent. 
• You believe in having control over your child's life. 
• You insist on excellence in different areas, like academics and sports
• You measure your child's success by their concrete achievements. 
• Your child's achievements make you feel you are a good parent. 

If you chose mostly Bs: You're a Jellyfish parent: 

• You are an indulgent parent
• You allow the rules to be broken. 
• While you have expectations, you allow your child to get away easily. 

If you chose mostly Cs: You're a Dolphin parent: You strike a fair balance between the Tiger and Jellyfish styles of parenting. While you insist on things being done in a certain way, you also believe in communicating a lot with your child. You allow your child to have fun without compromising on values.

Would you like to understand more about parenting styles?

Last updated on: July 18, 2025