10 Ways to Be a Better Dad

1. Respect your children’s Mother

   • Married - keep your marriage strong and healthy

   • Not married - respect and support the mother

   • Respect provides a secure environment for them and makes them feel like they are respected

2. Spend Time with your Children

   • If you seem too busy for your children, they will feel neglected

   • Treasuring a child will mean sacrificing other things

   • Don’t miss opportunities to spend quality time

3. Earn the Right to be Heard

   • Start to talk to your children about difficult subjects when they are young

   • It will make those conversations easier when they are older

   • Listen instead of speaking first

4. Discipline with Love

   • All children need reasonable limits

   • Remind children of the consequences of their actions

   • Provide meaningful rewards for desirable behavior

   • Fathers who discipline in a calm/fair manner show love for their children

5. Be a Role Model

   • Fathers are role models 

   • Girls who spend time with loving fathers know they deserved to be treated with respect by boys and what to look for in a husband

   • Fathers can teach sons what is important in life by teaching responsibility, honesty, and humility

6. Be a Teacher

   • Teaching isn’t something other people do

   • A father teaches his children about right and wrong

   • Involved fathers use everyday examples to help their children learn the basics of life

7. Eat Together as a Family

   • Sharing a meal together can be an important part of healthy family life

   • It provides structure in a busy day

   • Gives kids a chance to talk about what they are doing

   • Sets aside time for fathers to listen and give advice 

   • It is important family time

8. Read to your Children

   • In a world where television and video games dominate, making a special effort to read is important

   • It is important to read to your children when they are young

   • Encourage them to read on their own as they get older

   • Instill a love of reading in your children and you will help ensure they have a lifetime of personal and career growth

9. Show Affection

   • Children need the security of knowing they are wanted, accepted, and loved 

   • Fathers need to feel comfortable and willing to hug their children

   • Show affection every day to let your children know you love them

10. Realize that a Father’s Job is never Done

    • Even after they are grown up and left your home, if your job is done well, they will still look to you for wisdom and advice

    • Fathers play an essential part in the lives of their children as they become adults

    • Create a legacy for future generations