When you have kids, you naturally want to be the best dad you can be, but it is not always easy to know what to do for the best, which can make for many a sleepless night!
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of a few things you can do that will undoubtedly help you to be a better dad to your children right now:
1. Spend more time with them
The number one thing you can do if you want to be a better dad is to spend more time with your children. Yes, you might have a busy life what with work and chores and everything, but your kids come first and the thing they will remember and value the most is the time spent playing, talking, and having fun together. Your time really is the greatest gift you have to give as a father.
2. Listen to them
As a dad, you need to practice the art of listening to your children, I mean really listening. It can be so tempting to jump in with your thoughts and opinions before your kids have really had a chance to explain themselves, but this will only serve to make them feel misunderstood and not listened to. Learn to actively listen, let your kids say what they need to say, and then give them the best advice you know-how.
3. Set a good example
As their dad, you are their primary role model and that means you need to set a good example for your kids. If you have addiction problems, go to rehab; if you are prone to getting angry too easily, see an anger management therapist; if you sr unhealthy join a gym. Your kids will copy what they see you do the most, so the healthier, happier and more well-rounded you are, the healthier, happier and more well-rounded your kids will grow up to be too.
4. Discipline (but do so kindly)
Children need boundaries and they need to know when they have acted in a way that is inappropriate. So, as a dad, you absolutely need to be ready and willing to discipline your children when they have behaved poorly. However, you should discipline them only in a way that is calm, fair, and clear. Spell it out clearly why what they did was wrong and give them a proportionate punishment that they understand.
5. Be affectionate
Dads have gotten better at showing their affection for their children in recent years, but many of us could stand to improve even more. Do not be afraid to cuddle your children, tell them you love, them, do nice little things for them because the more loved they feel, the more secure they will feel and the happier they will be.
Being a good dad can be pretty hard and even when you have the best intentions, you will not always get it right, but the tips in this post will definitely help you to tilt the balance and get it right more often than not, which is the best you can hope for as a modern parent!