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This Is the Kind of Parent You’ll Be, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

The way you handle your kids depends on your birth date. Learn how to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of your zodiac parenting style.

Angry male person looking at his son
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Aries (March 21–April 19)

Your zodiac sign will influence the way you parent, says life coach, spiritual guide, and astrologer Linda Furiate. She helps Reader’s Digest break down your parenting strengths and weaknesses based on your birthdate. For an Aries, the idea of having a child may be more appealing than day-to-day reality, she says. “Aries themselves are somewhat childlike in nature, and they either shun the responsibility or they may be a parent who exposes the child to many new opportunities.” Aries can be a great role model for children because of natural leadership skills, but because an Aries is quick to anger, they have to take special care to rein in frustration when they can’t meet their child’s needs.

Mom with her 6 years old daughter walking along city street and eating ice cream in front of the outdoor cafe. Good relations of parent and child. Happy moments together.
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Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Fiercely loyal and committed to comfort, a Taurus parent will seek to create an ideal environment and lifestyle for their child. “A Taurus parent will teach the child the value of self-worth,” Furiate says, “and doing the right thing.” Taken too far, this approach can result in too much pampering. She advises Taurus parents to avoid spending too much money indulging their child’s every wish—they must be careful not to spoil their child.

Mother sitting on the floor reading a book with her daughter
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Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Geminis are verbose and curious individuals who love to learn. Their top priority for their child is education, says Furiate: “They will want to read to the child often.” Geminis also see the educational value of socializing. “The parent may encourage the child to spend time with their cousins, close relatives and schoolmates to learn and grow.” Because a Gemini is so keen to instruct their child, though, they have to be aware of how they communicate. “A weakness may be that the parent talks at the child and not to the child.” Check out the books you’ll love based on your zodiac sign.

Black dad and young daughter look at each other while baking
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Cancer (June 21–July 22)

There is nothing more important to a Cancer than family and home life, and they will take every measure to create a warm, loving, and supportive atmosphere. A Cancer parent may love to plan and prepare elaborate family meals as a way of sharing quality time with their children, explains Furiate. Cancers may be prone to over-protectiveness, though: “Often, a Cancer parent will smother a child with their love,” says Furiate. This could lead the child to rebel. These signs indicate that you might be a toxic parent. 

Mother and kids sitting at wooden dock enjoying ocean view
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Leo (July 23–August 22)

“A Leo parent has the potential to be playful and fun,” Furiate says. “Leos love the energy of a child and may wish for and have more than the average number of children.” Leos enjoy life and always try to look on the bright side, which is why they relate so well to children, says Furiate. Leos can be childlike, so being a parent and sharing time with a child is a means for the Leo to maintain his or her youth, she explains. A Leo parent’s favorite activity is taking vacations or weekend trips with their child.

Student Celebrates Graduation With Parents
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Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Virgos have a great balance of logic and heart—practical but sensitive. Furiate believes people with this sign “may make the perfect parent.” They can be a fair disciplinarian and cater to their child’s emotions. The only potential pitfall can be a Virgo’s desire for perfection, warns Furiate—they have to be wary of setting impossibly high standards for their kid. “The Virgo parent may want to micromanage the daily habits of the child.”

Portrait of happy young European female sitting on grey couch with two little sons who hugging her tight, feeling need of her love and support. Two male siblings sharing attention of their mother
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Libra (September 23–October 22)

Because Libra is the sign best at managing relationships, they tend to be the best at co-parenting, says Furiate. A Libra parent understands the family dynamic well and is able to solve most family disputes with relative ease. “A Libra would prefer to use kind words to talk to the child rather than resort to anger or authority.” The only thing a Libra parent has to be wary of is permissiveness; they can be too lax and let a child take advantage of them.

Sad tired mother and sulky angry offended child girl not talking after conflict in living room, stubborn kid daughter pouting ignoring depressed mother upset by argument, family conflict concept
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Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Scorpio parents often engage in tough love. A determined sign with impressive resolve, Scorpios expect their children to develop the same qualities. “The Scorpio parent may teach the child to be strong and to stand up for what they believe in,” says Furiate. While passing on this kind of strength is crucial, tough love does have its limits. A Scorpio has to actively maintain a level of sensitivity, otherwise, they may overwhelm their children.

Outdoor shot of happy father and son in front of the car using mobile phone and laughing. Young man and little boy watching something on smart phone and enjoying while on road trip.
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Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Sagittarians are all about having a good time. They love to travel and experience new things and they pass that sense of wanderlust and zest for life onto their child. They’ll encourage their offspring to explore their own desires, Furiate says. While children do need a free hand and a sense of adventure, they also need stability. Children rely on structure, and this is where the Sagittarius parent may come up short. “The child may often feel they have no permanent grounding,” she says, something this type of parent needs to work to establish. “Thankfully, the child of a Sag parent will benefit from the numerous opportunities to expand their awareness of the richness and wonder of the world around them.”

Father teaching his son to ride a bike
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Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Because they take an all-work, no-play approach to their own lives, Capricorns can become strict parents. They crave success and achievement and want their children to strive for excellence. “A Capricorn parent may run a tight ship,” Furiate says, “treating their offspring like soldiers rather than children. A highly structured and disciplined lifestyle may be encouraged or enforced.” This kind of parenting style can have various results. Some children respond well to this sort of upbringing, she says, and it can inspire them to achieve great success. But a child who is not ready or strong enough to meet their parent’s expectations will crack under the pressure. “This strong need for control and discipline by the Capricorn parent may intimidate a child. This may induce a fear within the child to not want to grow up and take responsibility on their own.” According to Furiate, this may result in a child developing self-destructive habits such as an addiction.

Smiling mother and daughter in a cafe
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Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Aquarians are highly individual and idiosyncratic, making it difficult for them to find common ground with others—even their own child. “An Aquarian parent may often be less forthcoming with their feelings,” Furiate says, “even sharing their love with their child.” This can lead to a weak or detached parent-child bond. For Aquarius, the prime of their parenting life comes into play later, when the child grows up and is able to express themselves on a more adult level. At this stage, the Aquarian parent will re-engage with their offspring: “It is important to the Aquarian parent that the child use their logic, brilliance, and mental capacity to make their mark on the world.”

Mother Helps Stressed Teenage Daughter With Homework
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Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Known to be incredibly empathetic, Pisces are naturally attuned to their children’s feelings. “Pisces make excellent parents as they are gifted at caring for others,” explains Furiate. The trap for Pisces is that they can blow things out of proportion. Because they feel emotions so intensely, a Pisces parent has the potential to overreact to everyday difficulties and interfere in a child’s life when the child might learn more from solving their own problems, says Furiate. “Unfortunately, this may confuse the child.”

Yes, you can find a weight-loss strategy tailored to your zodiac sign.

Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian is a regular contributor to RD.com covering culture, advice, travel, pets and all things weird and haunted. She is the author of "From the Basement: A History of Emo Music and How It Changed Society," which analyzes the evolution of punk and mental health. She holds a B.A. in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College.