The summer is here and kids are home from school. This presents an opportunity for us fathers to spend more time getting to know our kids and bond with them.
Fathers are Essential
Since dads are different from moms, it follows that our parenting styles will be different as well and this forms the basis of our contribution to our kids’ healthy development.
We play various roles in our child’s life as a role model, a friend, and disciplinarian. We are crucial not only to our child’s physical well-being but also their emotional health. Being an involved dad brings the following positive benefits to our children:
- We encourage risk-taking through roughhousing. Mothers typically encourage kids to play safe but roughhousing with children does have a range of benefits including boosting their physical fitness, improving their coordination and problem-solving skills.
- We are also vital to children’s emotional well-being. Various studies have shown that kids with involved dads are more confident, have higher self-esteem and have better coping skills against stress and depression.
- We have a pivotal role in their teen’s lives which dissuades them from delinquent behavior. According to studies, affectionate, supportive and involved dads have been linked to a lower incidence of delinquent behavior like truancy, early sexual activity, alcohol and drug abuse in teens.
Enhancing Your Role in Your Kids’ Life This Summer
Now that you know you have a significant part to play in your children’s lives, why not forge a stronger bond with them. Break your routine this summer and find new fun activities that can help you shower your kids with affection. Here are 5 fun ideas to include in your summer bucket list:
1. Build something together.
It can be a fort in the living room, a kickass treehouse in your backyard or a lemonade stand. What matters is that you get to spend time with your kids showing them how to create something from their imagination.
2. Get in the water.
Summer and water activities go hand in hand. Head to the ocean to play in the waves, take the paddleboards out to the lake, visit the waterpark for a blast or even just take a trip to your local neighborhood swimming pool and have a great time with your kids. Teach them cool tricks and how to play different water games and you’ll be their hero.
3. Find exciting regional attractions to attend.
There is always something interesting to see regardless of where you live. You can take your kids to a local fair, rodeo, zoo or museum. They are guaranteed to have the time of their lives and they might also learn something while at it.
4. Spend time outdoors.
Introduce your kids to the wonders of the great outdoors this summer. You can take them fishing, go on a picnic, hike in one of the many national parks or even treat them to the joys of camping. The clean air and tranquility will do wonders for you too.
5. Plan a scavenger hunt.
With the right planning and preparation, a scavenger hunt can keep kids enthralled for hours. Create a list of things for them to find, add some interesting clues and you have a fun scavenger hunt on your hands. You can teach your kids teamwork by encouraging them to work together to find the items or alternatively, encourage healthy competition by awarding a prize to the one who collects the most items.
Time spent having fun with your kids is never wasted and the memories you make will last a lifetime.
