Coming up to Father’s Day we wanted to share some of our top tips to help fathers build stronger relationships with their kids.
You don’t need to be a full-time dad to be a great father and role model. It’s the times when you really engage with your children that will have the most influence on their development.
1. Put down any devices when your child is telling you about their day
We live in a very connected world when it comes to our devices and technology, but this can sometimes lead to the unfortunate event of possibly ignoring your child in lieu of your device. So why not try and go technology free when spending time with your children, even if you only spare a few minutes to begin with.
Five minutes of undivided attention is better than sixty minutes of divided attention. Children learn their worth by how their parents respond to them. Show your child how much they mean to you by choosing them over that email or phone call or text that, if you are honest, can probably wait.
2. Play with them
Play is a great way to not only bond with your children but it’s a great way for them to learn. Think about the best times you had as a kid, it was most likely spent playing outside with family or friends.
Spending time playing outside is great. ‘Rough and tumble play’ (i.e. having a tackle and wrestle) has been shown to not only build relationships between dads and their kids; it also increases the development of young brains!
If the weather doesn’t allow for outside play, playing video games alongside an older child can be a way to connect and relate as you have side-by-side conversations.
3. Make time for each child individually
Every child is different, and you can honor the differences in your children by making time to spend with each of them individually.
When you engage with and join your children in doing things that are important to them and things they like to do it shows them you are paying attention. This will illustrate how much you love and care for them as you are making note of what they like individually rather than just assuming they are the same as their siblings.
4. Read to or with them
Reading teaches children a vitally important skill and is also lots of fun! Have fun acting out the characters together.
Even when your kids are old enough to read for themselves, sitting together to read will help strengthen your relationship whilst also creating quality time.
5. Show your children affection
Show your children how much you love them; this not only shows kids that dads show affection and are in touch with their feelings; it also shows children that they are loveable!
Children learn how to act and respond by watching the adults around them and if you are willing to show affection to them, they will then feel open and able to show affection to you and to others.
6. Act like a dad, not a friend
It’s important that fathers understand how their behavior can influence their children. Acting like a big kid and having moments of joyful play is fine on occasion but you must keep the boundaries clear and remain the adult.
There is a time to act like a child and have some fun, but this needs to be done in moderation along with you acting like the adult and father. Remember that you are older and bigger – so you need to be kinder and wiser. Your child has the right to act like a child whenever they want; you don’t!
7. Remember its quality over quantity
Modern families are so diverse that you sometimes don’t get to spend that much time with your children but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a solid and close relationship. Focus on making the most of the time you do get to spend with them, and they will not only remember it for the rest of their lives but it will help build the foundation of a healthy relationship.
Now go and spend some time with your children or plan some fun activities for the next time you get to see your children.