Every Woman knows one thing deep down, even if she might not care to admit it:
‘Her Daddy is the first Man in her Life.’
It’s true. There’s simply no denying the intensity of a Father-Daughter Relationship. It’s a relationship that sets the benchmark for every relationship a Girl will have with Men in the future. Indeed, one of the defining hallmarks of a girl’s childhood!
It is the endeavor of this article, to explore that very Father-Daughter Relationship, in greater detail. From uncovering the Benefits of Father-Daughter Bonding, to exploring how one can take steps to strengthen the Father-Daughter Connection, we have it all covered here. Understand more about that Father-Daughter Relationship and exactly what makes it tick, by reading on.
Table of Contents
- Exploring the Father-Daughter Connection: Benefits of a Father-Daughter Relationship
- Tips for Enhanced Father-Daughter Bonding
Exploring the Father-Daughter Connection: Benefits of a Father-Daughter Relationship
There’s a good reason she’s ‘Daddy’s Princess’! Presenting the myriad Benefits of every Father-Daughter Relationship, that shows just why it makes for one of the most ‘special’ connections.
- More Trust in future Relationships
- Better in School
- Higher levels of Confidence and Self-esteem
When we talked about the Father-Daughter Relationship setting that ‘benchmark’ in relationships, we were serious! Girls who have had great relationships with their fathers, usually go on to have secure, trust-filled relationships with future male partners.
A girl that has a supportive father, is far less likely to become a delinquent! What’s more, she is all the more likely to be more sociable, and do better academically, too.
These are attributes that will only help them in the years to come, be it in their interpersonal relationships or even at the workplace.
Note: This is extremely important, as girls with low-self esteem tend to make poor choices where it comes to the men they choose as partners.
Tips for Enhanced Father-Daughter Bonding
We know that all Fathers do an exceptional job, just like Mothers, of course! That being said, there are some ways one can ‘enhance’ that Father-Daughter Bonding Experience!
- Tell her she is Loved
- Help them with their Homework
- Take her on a trip in the Outdoors
- Giving a push to Positive Body Image
- Build that sense of Trust with them
- Get to know their Friends
You want to do this every single day! It might not be in a literal sense, but it can be reflected in the little things you do for her. Take her for a long drive when she least expects it, or simply spend time listening to her narrate her day’s events to you.
Note: While we might express our love in intangible ways, it’s important to tell them every once in a while, that all-important ‘I love you’.
Mummy can tell them to do their homework, yes, but it’s Daddies that need to help them do it!
Tip: When you help them, don’t make the mistake of doing it all by yourself. You want to help them out in places where they find themselves ‘stuck’. The idea is to gently prod them, so they can gain the confidence to master it on their own.
It’s not only ‘boys’ who go on fishing trips with their dads!
Note: This doesn’t mean that you need to take your daughter fishing, of course! Simply take them for a hike in the woods, or perhaps on an overnight camping trip. That will work wonders where it comes to strengthening the Father-Daughter Bonding experience, and in building their sense of ‘resilience’.
A lot of girls struggle with the way the world perceives their bodies. As a father, it’s your responsibility to ensure they don’t end up with a negative body image.
Cool Fact: Quite interestingly, it’s by ‘not’ focusing on the way she ‘looks’, that will help her reinforce her sense of body image. Tell her things like ‘You’re very Smart’ or ‘You’re so Kind’, rather than ‘You look so Pretty’. That will help her focus on qualities that truly ‘matter’, rather than having them obsess over the idea of merely having a ‘Pretty Face’.
If there is one thing that we know well about Trust, it is this: It has to be ‘earned’!
To do: You want to listen to them when they are telling you something, without enforcing in them a fear of being dismissed. If you are able to do that, it will help them believe that their opinion is truly ‘valued’. The idea, of course, is to create a ‘safe space’, where they will in time come to be ‘honest’ with you without fear of judgment.
One of the best ways to strengthen that Father-Daughter bond is to get to know them better!
To do: Get to know their friends, if you can. That will, in turn, help you understand your daughter better, by keeping you abreast of the going-ons in her life.
That Father-Daughter connection indeed makes for a special kind of bond. If Mama has her ‘Boy’, Daddy sure has his ‘Girl’! Stoke the embers of the Father-Daughter Relationship every day, to keep the fire of this special ‘connection’ burning bright!
References:
- Parenting in Real Life
- Children’s Bureau of Southern California
https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/the-importance-of-father-daughter-relationships/
