“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a Fathers Protection and love” – Sigmund Freud
I thought this month I would look at the important role of Fathers in their children’s lives and the impact this relationship has on a child’s future.
Children learn through imitation. They model their fathers and this is where behaviour and patterns develop. Fathers are central to the emotional well being of their children. An active Father provides an important foundation for his children’s security, stability and development. A father’s presence in the family will determine a child’s happiness and success.
Fathers teach their children to be tough by giving them structure, guidance, support, set boundaries and provide nurture. They teach their child to take charge, be assertive, to recover from disappointment, solve problems even when you are emotionally overwhelmed and they teach their child to have a sense of humour.
Fathers that are affectionate, supportive or involved contribute to a child cognitive, language, social development as well as academic achievement a strong inner core and resources and sense of well being, self esteem and truth.
Fathers who make this difference in their child’s life know their role is unique and vital. Boys look for their father’s approval in all they do. A father lets his son know how he’s doing by giving him good feedback. Boys have better grades, are well bonded, develop security with a stable sense of self.
Fathers teach their Sons to be good men.
They plant the seeds of a good man. A Father role models these traits for his son.
- Responsibility
- Strength, love, patients, good values and morals
- Hard work, supporting a family,
- Good choices and self control
Fathers know that they are the entrance to their son’s life as a man so he passes on the guy stuff (cars, passions, clothes, relationships, woman) and he teaches his son. He knows the importance of kindling a sound relationship with his son.
A Father models an intimate loving relationship with his wife and how a sound relationship works. How to handle differences as well as showing affection and respect, managing your emotions, being proactive calm, clear, sensitive, having integrity to say and do what you believe.
“The most important thing a Father Can, do for his children is to love their mother” – Theodore Hesburgh
A Father teaches their Daughters about their value and their worth and that, men are to respect them.
As a Father shows love, respect and care for their daughters, it teaches their daughters how a man is to treat them.
A Fathers relationship with his daughter affects her self esteem, her confidence in herself, her self worth and her value. A girl is more confident in life and in herself and her abilities when she has the loving presence of her father.
A girl will watch her father, his actions, behaviour and traits and they choose, such a mate for themselves later in life. This happens as a girl will look for a man that holds the pattern of their dads. Therefore if their dad is kind, loving and gentle they will reach for that in a man. Girls will look for what they have experienced and become familiar with in their childhood as it is familiar they believe they can handle it in a relationship as an adult.
A Fathers unconditional love fosters a positive body image in their daughters that lasts forever.
The way a Father treats a girl’s mother is showing his daughter how she deserves to be treated by a man.
A girl’s ability to trust and interact with men will be determined by the relationship she has with her dad.
When Fathers are not fulfilling their roles as Fathers, the rippling effect in the pond of their children will appear as follows:
- aggressive behaviour
- proactive unsafe sex
- perform poorly at school
- develop unhealthy relationships
- psychological problem
- neglect, abandoned, abusive, depressed, rejected, failure
- -emotionally disconnected
- trust issues
- self worth issues as well as doubting their ability
- poor body image
Now that we are aware of the importance of the role of a father in a child’s life and how it shapes their future, let all fathers have an understanding of their important role and make a vital and unique difference to their children’s lives every day.
In doing so it creates a rippling effect in our world and a better future for all generations to come.
