Top Tips to be the best Dad that you can be

It’s not always easy, but it is one of the most fulfilling roles you can play as a man and that is to be a good father, role model and example to your son or daughter. Here are the top tips to help you on the way to doing the best job you can for your kids.

Be Consistent - Do what you actually said you would do. Every child needs to believe he has a dependable father, so if you promise you’ll make it to that soccer game or take him to the movie, it’s important to follow through no matter what comes up in the meantime. Trust from your child is vital. This also holds through for discipline. They need your guidance. It can be hard to discipline your children because you’re ready to stand at their defense no matter what. But remember that rules and structure are important in life and the earlier they learn that, the easier their lives will be.
Family Time - In many families dads have the best intentions of spending time with their family, but something comes up, work is busy or old friends turn up and the family time is put on the back burner. This also happens both ways. You may find that when you do get some time, your kids have developed their own social schedules and they don’t include you!
Get Involved - Make it your business to talk to your kids about any problems they may have, any fears that they have but also the positives, find out what they like doing, what productive things are the doing. The more you know about a child, the better you can relate to them . Be involved and aware of their school life, social friends, online activities, hobbies, their abilities or lack of ability at certain activities. Get to know your childrens parents and use them as a source of information aswell.
Deal with your own problems - Don’t dump your stress and problems on your children. Children can be a great stress reliever if you know how to interact with them. Find an outlet for your stress and keep your family life clear of stress that is not directly associated with them.
Lead the way - You are in a great position, you can be the role model for all your children. Use the “Do as I do” strategy rather than the “Do as I say”. Show leadership, show your kids how to deal with conflict or stressful situations by dealing with them effectively yourself. You don’t have to explain every detail to them, they will learn by your example.
Mentor - or teach your child. Sure they go to school, but that only teaches them reading, writing etc. There is so much that they can learn from you. if you don’t teach them, they will learnfrom someone else and that may not be the way you want them to learn. Passing on your knowledge is great for bonding and gives the father a great sense of pride and satisfaction