Often, visitors from relatives ask the children this question, and the answer is different according to the situation, as girls love Baba more and boys love Mama more, and everyone laughs after those answers.

I recall being asked that as a child in Britain, but only rarely. I do not know of any research on the topic.

This habit is also found in Jordan but starts to be from the past.

Dear Professor Rhianon Allen , thank you for your response to this discussion. Since you are psychology professor, I wish to ask you what will happen to the psyche of the kids? As I have grown up in this cultural setting, I am indifferent to this. Anyhow, thank you for spending your time and contributing to this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Almu'Atasim Khamees , it is a surprise. IAfter other researchers sharing their thoughts we may get a broader idea on this topic. thank you for your kind response to this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G

I think it's rarely in Yemen but in my opinion the visitor tries to open the discussion between the kids and him so using as these questions

Often, visitors from relatives ask the children this question, and the answer is different according to the situation, as girls love Baba more and boys love Mama more, and everyone laughs after those answers.

Dear Dr Ali Ahmed Mansoor , Yes i agree with you, it is a way of initiating a discussion by asking an emotive question. even the kid who is very shy will open up. Thank you for your sharing thoughts and insights into this discussion. Thank you doctor for your kindness. warm regards. Yoganandan G.

Parents always ask children this question, and it aims only for laughter ...

Feelings of father & mother , keep kids experience the same right from the childhood which they wish to keep nourish with them till the passage of time . It is not a healthy practice to ask children regarding their love & feeling during their childhood stage whereby they may come across feeling from the face & eyes for the question raised by members .

In childhood children require all the time loving care from the parents & parents also reciprocate the same with quite loving manner creating a feeling & love for the children who reciprocate the same in a smiling manner .

This is my personal opinion

It is also a common question in Croatia. The most diplomatic answer I often hear is : both.

Yoganandan G. I recall being embarrassed by the question, and I expect that most children would be unless it were a common routine occurrence. I do not think that there were any long term consequences for me. Whether there are long term emotional consequences would likely be quite dependent on the culture. I do think that it would reinforce gender and social role stereotypes.

Dear Dr Antethar Jabar thank you for your point of view. I agree that many ask these probing questions. Thank you for kind response. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Professor Rohit Manilal Parikh , I am happy that you have contributed to this discussion. Yes. Apart from Visitor, sometimes parents too ask this type of question and the child is in a difficult position to deal with as it requires the love and support of both the parent. All thanks for you detailed inputs and thoughts. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr. Mirna Leko-Šimić Yes I agree with you, Some kids are very shrewd. But mostly it is to open up/ initiating a chat. Thank you for your sharing thoughts. I am bit surprised to hear this habit in your country Croatia too. Thank you doctor for your kindness. Warm regards. Yoganandan G.

Dear Dr Rhianon Allen, I do endorse your views that there were any long term consequences. But, sometimes kids develop a kind of - this guest is not welcome- attitude. I am not so sure about whether it is gender stereotyping buy definitely it is social stereotyping. Thank you for your response doctor. Ward regards Yoganandan G

This custom also exists in our Arab countries.

This old habit also exists in Ukraine. It is difficult for children to answer this question. At some point, they begin to hide their feelings so as not to offend anyone.

Dear Dr Isam Alkhalifawi and Dr Olena Muzyka , thank you for your reply. it seems that such a habit is nearly global, cutting across cultures, nations and other strata. Sincere thanks for your contribution. At times, some of my relatives ask the same question many a time, my child is stubborn [not giving any answer] in his stand but, I get irritated a bit [sorry to say this]. all thanks and warm regards Yoganandan

Thank you, Doctor. You have brought back beautiful memories for me. Yes, this habit exists in our country as well. Visitors used to ask my little daughter who loves more her father or mother, but she was very smart, and she was very young, not exceeding three years. She was answering that I am with her father like the moon and the sky to her, and she loves her father as much as the moon and she loves me as much as the sky. A deceitful one who avoids answering who is her favorite.

Every small kid more like her mother than father.

It happens but don't know why. May be people enjoy by talking witd children.

In my country,children always answer they like their mother better.

It is quite common! Not appropriate question though.

Yes sir I like both equally

In addition to the USA, I have been to Canada, Mexico, the UK and the Republic of Panama. I have not seen this type of occurrence in these places.

Dear Dr. Manal Hadi Kanaan , thank you for your reply. Initially, I was reluctant to ask this question in this forum thinking that this type of behaviour may be too unique/odd and may not resonate well with the other researchers. But, now I understand that this is a global phenomenon. Kids are smarter, witty and very positive. Thank you for your kind response and support to this discussion by the way of an wonderful answer. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr. Manal Hadi Kanaan thank you very much for recommendations.

Emaj

Dear Dr Sandip Kumar Gupta , I beg to differ. Kids preference is based on number of factors. If the parent (father or mother) is supportive to their views/ideas, they like them (either father or mother). Thank you for thoughts on this topic and your inputs. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Amjad Ali , I have to agree with you (now) as it seems a global phenomenon. I feel your contribution is very significant. Thank you very much. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Yuxuan Xia , Thank you for your point of view. It is similar to what Dr. Sandip Kumar Gupta also pointed out. I may be an exception to this view, because I have seen kids (answer) liking their father more than mother. Happy to have your inputs and insights into this topic. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak , Yes I agree with you that I do not like this question (sometimes visitors persist with the question). Thank you for your kind reply to discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr. M.K. Tripathi , I thought for a while before punching my reply to you. Dear doctor, yes we are (still) a kid to our parents. You are the smartest kid. My best wishes to you. Thank you doctor, you have added a beautiful response to this forum. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Srini Vasan , Really good information. I started feeling that this behavior could be global. But, now... on second thought, it seems that I have to wait....

Thank you doctor for your insights - which paves way for the new dimension in this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr Emaj Uddin thank you for your reply. Warm regards Yoganandan G

This question here is there, I think this question is asked everywhere from the children

This question here is there, I think this question is asked everywhere from the children

Dear Dr mohammad reza Malekzadeh , You have not mentioned the place. I would like to know the place/country/region. Thank you for taking part in this discussion forum with your information. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Asked by visitors usually though it is an absurd question. For a child, both mother and father are equally important.

Dear Dr mohammad reza Malekzadeh , I completely agree with you. Only one researcher has so far did not approve that such a behavior is a global phenomenon. Sincere thanks for your time and insights which help discussion a lot. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear (Dr) Shubhi Agarwal , I completely agree with you. I too felt in the same way. But, many think that is one method/way of initiating a discussion with the child (which is shy) and do not find any harm with this question. Deeply thankful to your participation in this discussion and continuous support to my research work.Warm regards Yoganandan G

Hello dear colleagues. The fenomen of that question (Do you like your mother or father the most?) is accented in our country too. I am from Armenia. This traditional question developed from the sages. The aim of this difficult question to drive a child to protect its family and never put defense between parents. In our country we teach the child the answer: I love them both. Really it is very interesting fenomen for psychological studies.

Dear Dr Diana Sargsyan , Your information that Armenia too has such behavioral pattern is duly noted. Yes, this interaction enable us to teach how to manage such a situation - we teach the child the answer: I love them both. Really thanks. Your information adds lot of value to this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan

Agreed with Dr. Manal Hadi Kanaan 

Dear Sir

very nice question indeed.

Sir, it is prevalent in Punjab also...............

Little kids are really confused while answering this question.

One more thing that is there, is to match the kid with either Mother or Father

Dear Dr Atiqe Ur Rahman , Deeply thankful to you. Thank you for taking part in this discussion forum and for your kindness. Warm regards Yoganandan G

Dear Dr. Sanjeev Bansal , I have duly noted your information that such practice is - prevalent in Punjab. profoundly thankful to your contribution to this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G

I think it is habitual for many others. In my country (Georgia) the same question is typical with the question father or ice-cream? mother or ice-cream?

very nice question

Dear Dr. Teeb Hussein , Glad that you have participated. Very much thankful to your kind participation and support to this discussion. Warm regards Yoganandan G