Fatherhood Factor

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Guest Post

5 Fun Father-Son Bonding Activities

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There is a time and place for everything. However, the idea of bonding with your own son is something that is completely timeless. Regardless if he is just a child or a fully grown man, older than you when he was born, it matters not. It is never too late for some father-son bonding activity and this kind of effort is never underappreciated. Because of this, here are 5 most fun father-son bonding activities that you should definitely try out with your boy at least once.

1.  Fishing

Really no surprise here. For over a century now, fishing is almost a synonymous for a father-son bonding activity. Furthermore, taking your son fishing is about more than just spending time with him. It is about spreading the knowledge, a skill directly related to man’s survival in wilderness. This skill was passed down from father to son for generations, millennia in the past. This is why fishing, deserves the first spot on this list. The drawbacks however are the fact that fishing as a hobby is not at all inexpensive. Quality fishing gear can cost an arm and a leg and buying an adequate rod is almost an art. Still for all those passionate about it, it is usually more than worth all the effort invested.

2.  Building a model rocket

Children are curious beings, so it is important to point them in the right direction. It is for this reason that building a model rocket is one of the greatest father-son activities there is. First off, it is an incredibly fun thing to do. It takes time, it takes patience and it takes precision. Next important thing is that it nourishes your boy’s love for science, his curiosity and trying to understand how the world functions. In the end, it also establishes you as a figure of knowledge and authority in the eyes of your son. If you do this right, you will become a dad that knows everything.

3.  Going to a basketball game

One of the universal desires of every father out there is to make his son interested in some form of sport, or to make him root for the same team he does. The first thing is important since playing basketball is a great thing for a young boy’s developing body. As for second thing, this is something highly subjective. There is nothing more beautiful than going to a game with your own son and witnessing your team’s victories or hard times with him by your side. This is why it is a great idea to start as early as possible. I remember when my father bought Lakers tickets for the two of us. It was an energetic experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

4.  Playing catch

Same as going to a game, this will also nourish your boy’s love towards sport, but also improve his hand-eye coordination. Additionally, speaking of some quality father-son time, it doesn’t get any more intimate than this. Having a “big talk” with a child is often seen as meddling. However, during a simple catch session with your boy, you will find out more about what’s been troubling him lately than you ever could through a “parental interrogation.”

5.  A road trip

Going on a road trip is always a fun activity and it is one that your boy is bound to appreciate. In a modern, hectic world, taking few days off work just so you could spend them with your son already means a lot. Plan the most interesting, the most exciting road trip and share it with your son. You may rest assured that everything you experienced on the road will become a lifelong memory for your boy. A memory that he will always cherish.

Where there is a will there is always a way, and building a healthy relationship with your son is something that requires a lot of time and patience. Still, as hard as it may seem, there is no goal that is more worthy and no prize more valuable than being able to properly bond with your son.

Kids’ Use of Mobile Phones; And Keeping Them Safe While Doing It

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Kids Using SmartphonesStaying connected is the need of the hour. Be it an employee with his employer or be it children with their parents, mobile phones are given for immediate communication whenever a need arises. The reason why children are provided mobile phones by their parents is because they want to be in constant contact with their children as they are always concerned about their safety and whereabouts. This also gives the parents a sense of relief as they can contact their children whenever they need.

Children may have their own reason for having a cell phone too. It has become a status symbol and means of entertainment, apart from helping them to stay connected with their friends and family all the time. Studies revealed that 8 out of 10 kids use a cell phone and most of them are smart phones like iPhone, Blackberry and Android, which have endless features. Once a mobile phone falls into the hands of a kid, they have every reason of getting glued to it. One of the most commonly asked questions is ‘what exactly do kids do on their cell phones?’

Ill Effects of a Cell Phone

It is very necessary to know about the kind of activities the kids are involved in while using their cell phones. Due to their innocence, they may fall prey to some that have malicious things in mind. Parents may not be aware of this at all. Kids may upload several sensitive videos and photos unknowingly, which can be misused by many cyber criminals. This may bring down the hard earned reputation of your kid as well as yours.

Teenagers, mostly, can fall prey to these cyber criminals. Some people may lure them to send in their photographs in the name of love or friendship. Strangers asking to send videos in disguise of some known persons, inviting young kids to participate in some dirty chat rooms are some of the most common cyber traps. Once your kid falls into these traps, unknowingly, the criminals can then use these evidences to blackmail you, the parents, for some monetary benefits or other advantages. There are cases where even kids were used to gain monetary benefits by uploading their photographs and videos to adult sites.

Most parents find it difficult to track their kids in an attempt to keep them safe from these kinds of mishaps. If you are one of them, then you can now stop worrying and make use of mobile tracking software to keep your kids safe.

Mobile monitoring apps and computer monitoring software are designed for all kinds of mobile phones and tablets, which when installed, keeps track of all the activities performed on them. This way you will get to know what your kid is doing with his/her mobile, their surfing patterns, whom they are calling, what kind of messages they are receiving and from whom, what kind of multimedia messages are being sent and to whom, etc. In short, you will be able to see what your kid sees and will be able to listen to what your kid hears.

Most importantly, with the help of this mobile software, you can also find out the whereabouts of your kids. Knowing the whereabouts to ensure the safety of your kids is always a big relief to most every parent.

Early Fatherhood – Lessons Learned

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Though I’ve only been a father for about 5 months now, I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I feel all new and expectant fathers should know. 5 months, 5 lessons learned:

  1. Babies are adorable, but not at 2 a.m. – When my daughter was born, she was the most beautiful baby in the world. When she sneezed, it was during the day; she could do no wrong and brightened everyone’s day. But then there’s the night.  Not the peaceful 8-9 hour restful nights, but the screeching, ear piercing, screaming nights. When you’ve had a long day, and finally fall asleep, there is nothing more tiring than hearing the screams through the baby monitor. And no matter how adorable she was during the day, there was nothing adorable about her that late at night. So to all the expectant and new parents I would advise you cherish all the happy, daytime moments just a little bit more, because your little angel will more than likely make up for it some nights.
  2. Mothers don’t get enough credit – Mothers just can’t get enough credit for the work they do. As if the labor process wasn’t enough, my wife also seems to know exactly what to do at all times. When my daughter can’t get settled and I’m getting frustrated, she can morph the screaming beast (and I mean that with all the love possible) back into the adorable princess we know her to be. I sometimes wonder how I would get through parenthood without her there to support me along the way.
  3. Get used to the mess – Before our daughter arrived, we weren’t the best at keeping the house nice and tidy, but we managed. After our daughter arrived, things are starting to pile up quicker and stay there longer. So to all the new parents, get used to the mess. There just won’t be enough hours in the day to keep the house as clean as you would like. Yes, we still pick up around the house when we know we’ll have company, but the toys, the mail, the clothes, the dishes…just get used to seeing them around a lot more. My mom used to hang a sign in her kitchen that read “Dull people have immaculate houses.” As a child I didn’t know what that meant. As a parent without a dull moment to spare, those words ring very true.
  4. Learn a whole new level of patience – You better learn fast that your child will not always be the perfect angel you want them to be, and to think otherwise is silly. But even knowing that there will be fits and tantrums doesn’t prepare you for the mental wear and tear you will soon endure. You have got to learn how to be more patient, and trust me the Lord will provide those opportunities. And I think how you deal with those opportunities will determine the type of parent you will be. You probably won’t be able to spend as much time doing some of the things you love, having to sacrifice that time to raise your child(ren). And without less time spent on those hobbies, the stress level may rise even quicker. But in spite of the added stress, remember to just take a step back from time to time, take a deep breath, and know that it’s all more than worth it in the end.
  5. Be thankful! – Finally, I can’t stress the importance of simply being thankful for the opportunity to be a parent. Some people don’t get the joy of raising a child, whether by choice or circumstance and as a parent you get to share in the ups and downs of parenthood. And I feel most would agree that the good times outweigh the bad. Be thankful for the good times, more thankful for the great times, and of course, thankful when the stresses are alleviated. Be thankful for each giggle, smile, and laugh. Be thankful when your boy or girl squeezes your finger, grabs your shirt, and gazes into your eyes. Be thankful that the Lord has blessed you with a child, and make the most of the biggest opportunity of your life.

Any lessons you’d like to share? Comment, email, tweet away!