In many families, moms play a more dominant role when it comes to the rearing and raising of the children. Those motherly instincts just seem to lend themselves to strong bonds naturally developing between a mother and her children.
Because of this, some fathers might feel that their relationship with their children is being left behind. Especially if the family has gone through a divorce and the children aren’t living with their father all the time, it can be hard to pick up where you left off each week or month.
So to help ensure that you can have the relationship that you desire with each of your children, here are three tips for dads to start creating stronger bonds with their kids.
Spend Time Doing Activities
Oftentimes, it’s easiest for men to bond with others when they’re doing activities together or working toward some common goal. With this in mind, Kaelin Zawilinski, a contributor to Parents.com, recommends that you plan to spend your time with your kids actually doing activities together.
If you’re struggling to come up with activity ideas that will be fun for both you and your kids, you might want to start small and simple. Things like going on a walk or playing at the park can be great ways to participate in activities together and connect with one another in a natural way. These types of activities can be done from the time your kids are infants all the way up to their teenage years and beyond.
Don’t Shy Away From The Hard Times
When you don’t have a close bond with your children, it might be easier for you to disengage during the hard times in their lives rather than working through those moments together. However, having shared experiences, even if they aren’t particularly enjoyable, can help build very deep bonds between a child and their father. For this reason, Jason Anderson, a contributor to Today’s Parent, advises that you should try not to shy away from being there during the hard times your kids experience.
Be Consistent In Their Lives
If you’re like most parents, you likely don’t know what you’re doing half of the time as far as parenting goes. But even if you’re feeling inadequate or overwhelmed, Steve Calechman, a contributor to Fatherly.com, shares that the best thing you can do for your relationship with your child is to be consistent. When your child knows that he or she can depend on you and that you’ll be there for them no matter what, your bond with one another will begin to grow and develop in a natural and healthy way.
If you want to have a better relationship with your kids, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you build stronger bonds with one another, regardless of age or distance.
