Do you and your daughter have a strong bond and a great relationship? If your answer is yes, you deserve a round of applause. You’re giving your daughter the best gift you could give as a father. However, if your answer is no, it isn’t too late to turn things around.
Extensive research has shown that a father and daughter’s relationship has considerable impacts on the daughter that last a lifetime. Depending on your relationship with your daughter, the outcomes can be dramatically different for her life.
Here are some of the factors that affect your daughter depending on her relationship with her father, and things you can do to help strengthen the bond between you.
How the father-daughter relationship affects the daughter
- Establishing healthy self-esteem and confidence
- Making her feel secure and protected
- Higher academic and professional achievement
- Ability to build a sound relationship with men
- Higher chance of satisfaction in marriage
What fathers can do to raise a thriving, happy daughter
1. Use a soft, caring manner
Remember that interactions with your daughter need to be handled in a more delicate manner. Try to be more gentle with your voice and nuance. This will help your daughter to establish a sense of security and trust in you.
2. Be sensitive and alert to her feelings
It might be especially challenging for a father to attend to his daughter’s feelings. But accepting that girls tend toward a more sensitive nature and acknowledging their feelings will win her heart.
3. Be a good listener when she talks
Listening is more than half the battle, when it comes to the success of a conversation. According to research, people get higher satisfaction from interactions when the other person listens to their story attentively. If you adopt an attentive manner when your daughter talks to you, not only can you learn more about her, but you will also become a person she can seek advice or help from when needed.
4. Show interest in your daughter’s hobbies
Kids change their interests frequently and if you lose track, it gets increasingly hard to follow. Pay attention to your daughter’s current interests and regularly initiate conversations based on her passions. Look for opportunities to take part in her interests by doing something together that she is passionate about.
5. Verbal approval and praise
Never assume your daughter knows how you feel about her. Praise her for even the smallest achievements, and look for ways to verbally express your approval. A frequent affirmation can reassure your daughter of your affection.
6. Be playful while showing a nurturing manner
Children love to see the playful side of their parents. Although it’s important to be responsible and protective, try to be playful at times. Showing your humor and silliness can help lower barriers between you.
7. Spend quality time together
Setting aside time for quality interaction will require you to commit one hundred percent of your attention, even if it’s only for fifteen minutes a day. If you can afford it, set a date and have a fun outing with her. Take her to the park, a playground, or an ice cream shop. The most important point is, your daughter gets to have your full attention during this time.
Ideas for quality father-daughter time
1. Hide and seek
This is a simple game that young children enjoy playing. The rules are simple and the game comes with the bonus of an effortless thrill that drives little kids into a giggling spree. Just don’t be too obvious how easily you can see them, or find them on the first attempt. Hamming up the act of your struggles to find them will push your little one’s hilarity up a notch.
2. Indoor playground
If you want to change up the mood and get out of the house, an indoor playground is the perfect place, no matter what the weather’s like. As you can guess, there are likely to be many other children there with their parents, so it’s easy for you and your daughter to join in the excitement with parents of kids in a similar age group as yours.
The best part is, you get to explore the fun structures or hop on the trampoline with your daughter!
3. Gardening
Planting and taking care of plants is a great way to have a common subject to talk about. Not only that, it is a good opportunity to show your daughter how you handle delicate things and pour your gentle care into keeping your plants healthy.
4. Teach her to ride a bicycle
Learning how to ride with her father is one of the strongest memories you could plant in your daughter’s mind. Bicycle riding requires physical support which builds trust.
5. Cook together
Creating something together that fulfills your daughter’s curiosity and provides a sense of achievement can be a memorable event. Pick a simple but enjoyable menu to prepare together. Take time to prepare the ingredients while supervising the use of various kitchen tools and gadgets.
Summary
Having a strong relationship between father and daughter will benefit your little girl throughout her life. Show her your gentle side and caring manner as you express your interest in her passions and hobbies. Devote yourself to quality time with her while you show your playfulness and listen attentively when she talks. Never hold back your approval and praise; be quick to express your affirmation. With your nurturing manner and expressions of love, your daughter will feel secure and thrive throughout her life.
You might also be interested in reading the related posts below:
- 8 Signs of a good father-daughter relationship, and how to strengthen the bond with fun activities
- Father’s Day message cards and tie colouring activities
