Daughters who have healthy relationships with their fathers are more likely to grow up to be confident and kind, and strong father-daughter bonds are beneficial to families as a whole.
Dads, here are five things that your daughter needs from you as she grows.
Permission to be a child
At times, fathers may not know what a relationship with their daughter should look like. It is important to remember to let your daughter be a child.
Parents sometimes push typical parental caregiving responsibilities onto their daughters. According to Psychology Today, this will affect them as they learn to think that they must care for their parents’ psychological needs for validation.
Positive affection
Without a father’s affection and validation, a daughter may feel neglected and feel detached from her father. Give hugs and validate your daughter’s efforts and accomplishments to help build your relationship. These positive affections will help with their mental health and prevent depression, according to Daniel Flint, MA.
Shared physical activity
It is important for a father to find an interest to share with his daughter, whether it bereading, sports, or TV. Per Psychology Today, in a study, daughters who participated in a training group with their fathers experienced larger increases in social-emotional competency, decision-making skills, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, and self-management skills.
Closeness and reliability
All a daughter really needs is to know that she can rely on her father. Those elements in a father-daughter relationship will help maintain an open path for communication and healthy habits. According to Nancy Matsumoto, researchers found that girls who felt close to their fathers were less likely to have food and weight problems.
Communication
The most important part of any relationship is communication. With open communication, a father can know exactly what his daughter needs. It creates a deeper bond on similar interests shared. It also maintains that closeness and validation that daughters need.
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