Parenting Scale – PS

When my child misbehaves: [I do something right away] vs. [I do something about it later]

Before I do something about a problem: [I give my child several reminders or warnings] vs. [I use only one reminder or warning]

When I'm upset or under stress: [I am picky and on my child's back] vs. [I am no more picky than usual]

When I tell my child not to do something: [I say very little] vs. [I say a lot]

When my child pesters me: [I can ignore the pestering] vs. [I can't ignore the pestering]

When my child misbehaves: [I usually get into a long argument with my child] vs. [I don't get into an argument]

I threaten to do things that: [I am sure I can carry out] vs. [I know I won't actually do]

I am the kind of parent that: [sets limits on what my child is allowed to do] vs. [lets my child do whatever he or she wants]

When my child misbehaves: [I give my child a long lecture] vs. [I keep my talks short and to the point]

When my child misbehaves: [I raise my voice or yell] vs. [I speak to my child calmly]

If saying no doesn't work right away: [I take some other kind of action] vs. [I keep talking and trying to get through to my child]

When I want my child to stop doing something: [I firmly tell my child to stop] vs. [I coax or beg my child to stop]

When my child is out of my sight: [I often don't know what my child is doing] vs. [I always have a good idea of what my child is doing]

After there's been a problem with my child: [I often hold a grudge] vs. [things get back to normal quickly]

When we're not at home: [I handle my child the way I do at home] vs. [I let my child get away with a lot more]

When my child does something I don't like: [I do something about it every time it happens] vs. [I often let it go]

When there's a problem with my child: [things build up and I do things I don't mean to do] vs. [things don't get out of hand]

When my child misbehaves, I spank, slap, grab, or hit my child: [never or rarely] vs. [most of the time]

When my child doesn't do what I ask: [I often let it go or end up doing it myself] vs. [I take some other action]

When I give a fair threat or warning: [I often don't carry it out] vs. [I always do what I said]

If saying 'No' doesn't work: [I take some other kind of action] vs. [I offer my child something nice so he/she will behave]

When my child misbehaves: [I handle it without getting upset] vs. [I get so frustrated or angry that my child can see I'm upset]

When my child misbehaves: [I make my child tell me why he/she did it] vs. [I say 'No' or take some other action]

If my child misbehaves and then acts sorry: [I handle the problem like I usually would] vs. [I let it go that time]

When my child misbehaves: [I rarely use bad language or curse] vs. [I almost always use bad language]

When I say my child can't do something: [I let my child do it anyway] vs. [I stick to what I said]

When I have to handle a problem: [I tell my child I am sorry about it] vs. [I don't say I'm sorry]

When my child does something I don't like, I insult my child, say mean things, or call my child names: [never or rarely] vs. [most of the time]

If my child talks back or complains when I handle a problem: [I ignore the complaining and stick to what I said] vs. [I give my child a talk about not complaining]

If my child gets upset when I say 'No': [I back down and give in to my child] vs. [I stick to what I said]