10 ways to be a better father to your daughter
1. Be a man of integrity
Be the type of person your daughter would want to emulate. When a girl grows up with a father who respects her, she will more likely want to marry someone who can show her respect. You have to portray good attributes such as humility, honesty and responsibility.
2. Spend time with your family
This helps you to get to know your daughter better. Eat with your family whether it’s at breakfast or lunch or dinner time. While making the money is important, help her to know that she is equally or more important by spending time with her. It will give her the chance to discuss issues affecting her with you and for you to give constructive advice. Plan scheduled time to take her to places that she’d love to go, such as the mall.
3. Discipline with love
Disciplining your child helps to build their character. However, it must be done in love and not with the intention of abusing her. If you are too angry with her after she has committed an offence, take some time to cool off first. While disciplining her might result in pain, it is not a punishment. It should be a way for you to break certain bad habits before they get out of hand.
4. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable
You might not know all the answers to the questions that they ask; don’t be afraid to let them know this. When you do wrong, be man enough to let them know and apologise. When you are affected by something, don’t be afraid to let them see your tender side.
5. Show them that they are worthy
A daughter perceives her worth in her father’s eyes by how he treats her. In the same manner, she is punished when she commits an offence, she must be rewarded and appreciated when she does something good. When she does well academically you can plan little treats for her such as taking her to dinner or getting her tickets to the movies. It will inspire her and act as an incentive for her to reach higher.
6. Don’t be too overprotective
Your daughter needs to know that she will reap what she sows. She needs to know that there are consequences for ignoring your warnings. This will also help her to make better decisions in the future. While you might not want to share her with the world, being too overprotective might make her ignorant of the world around her, which makes her more vulnerable to the ills of society.
7. Be a teacher
Spend the time to teach her how to do things. If she is a toddler, teach her how to read and say the letters of the alphabet. If she is much older, teach her how to fix things around the house so she can learn to be more independent and help out more.
8. Respect your child’s mother
It is important that you support and respect your child’s mother, regardless of whether you are married or not. Keep arguments around your daughter to a minimum. This will help to provide a secure environment for her and help to make her feel respected as well.
9. Show affection
You have to do all you can to make your daughter feel loved and wanted. By showing affection everyday you make your daughter know that she is loved. This will strengthen the father -daughter bond and make her more willing to listen and communicate with you.
10. Be involved in her life
Spend time talking to your daughter about her day to day routine and tell her about yours. Show an interest in her friends and hobbies and attend events that she is partaking in. Don’t allow her to feel second best, but try and plan trips to the park, museum, swimming or whatever she likes best. The most important thing is to enjoy yourselves together.
