A solid father-daughter relationship is essential for the mental health and well-being of a little girl as she grows up. Though moms are usually thought of as the nurturers of the family, dads play an equally important role in raising strong, confident daughters. Maintaining this relationship will help your girls as they transition through the teenage years and into adulthood.
The following tips offer advice on how to build and sustain that bond:
- Appreciate Your Significance
Fathers have an enormous impact on their daughters. According to Dr. James Dobson on his website Focus on the Family, it is essential that a father demonstrate positive character traits so his daughter can learn from him. Fathers need to spend one-on-one time with their daughters. What you do with your little girl doesn’t matter as much as giving her your full attention. Play board games, go to the playground or read together.
- Be There When She Looks for You
Be someone she can count on. Show up to school plays, dance recitals and sports games when you say you’ll be there. Sit with her and help her do her homework or study for a test. Put your smartphone and other devices away and really listen to her when she talks, and she’ll know that she can come to you whenever she needs to.
- Demonstrate Your Feelings
Show your daughter how much you love her too. Hug her, pat her back and rock her when she cries. She needs to know she can count on you to comfort and love her. When she feels secure in that love, your bond will deepen as she learns that she can trust you. Above all, tell her that you love her, that you’re proud of her and that you’re glad you get to be her dad. Learn more ways to let her know how special she is in 9 Tips to Raising a Confident Girl.
- Keep Up With Her Life as She Grows Up
The relationship you have with your daughter will change as she gets older and transitions to a middle-schooler and then a teenager. Even though she’s older, she still needs you just as much as when she was a little girl. Make an effort to care about the things she enjoys, Dr. Dobson recommends.Listen to her favorite music or watch her favorite television show with her. This is a crucial time in her life, and she needs to know that you have her back. When she comes to you for advice or to tell you what’s happening in her life, make eye contact and really listen. If she knows she can come to you with the little things, she’ll also trust that she can confide in you about the big things.
- Remember That She’s Watching You
Your daughter will look to you as she finds a life partner. According to Jennifer Kromberg, Psy.D., writing for the Psychology Today website, girls are naturally attracted to mates who remind them of their fathers. Your daughter will look for a boyfriend or husband who is similar to you, so it’s essential to model what good men act like.If you make time for her, let her know that you love her and are there when she needs you, she is more likely to choose a partner who treats her the same way. Show her how a good husband takes care of his wife by modeling that in your own relationship with your daughter’s mother.
- Never Stop Nurturing the Bond
Taking care of your father-daughter bond isn’t always easy. You are the most important man in your little girl’s life, and the value you place on that relationship sends a powerful message to her that she matters. You might not always agree with her choices or her interests, but when you support her no matter what, your bond will continue to grow and solidify.
For more on strengthening family relationships, check out Nurturing the Father-Son Relationship: How to Keep It Strong.
How do you foster a solid father-daughter relationship? Share your tips in the comments.
Sara Ipatenco is a former stay-at-home mom who is now a freelance writer and first-grade teacher. Ipatenco holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree, both in elementary education. Ipatenco has been published in “Teaching Tolerance” and “Family Fun” magazines.
