A father’s words and actions have a profound impact on his sons. Boys often learn from their fathers, without realizing that they’re doing it. By watching and listening to their fathers, boys learn about masculinity, how a man behaves and what men like and don’t like. So deep is this influence that when asked, many adult men report that they either wanted to be just like their dads or the exact opposite.
As dads, we need to be selective about the priorities we choose in life because our sons are likely to emulate us. What we put first ultimately shows our kids what matters in life and we have a responsibility to guide them in the right direction. The best approach to teaching our sons what priorities they should set is to model appropriate behavior.
Here are some priorities whose importance we should emphasize:
1. Family
Family is one of the top-most priorities for most people. How we convey this to our sons matters as it sets a foundation for how they, in turn, will treat their families. There are many ways to demonstrate how much you value your family and what works for one home might not be suitable for another. For instance, you can choose to have dinner with your family every night while another dad might decide to have special one-on-one weekly dates with his kids. Doing activities together shows your son that you place high value on your family and this helps you bond.
2. Education and Learning
Studies show that kids whose fathers show an interest in their education tend to perform better academically. You can show your son that education matters by getting involved in his school life. This could include helping with homework, talking to teachers about his progress and having a discussion with your son about what he’s learning at school.
Remember that learning doesn’t only involve schoolwork so introduce your son to books, take your kids for trips to museums and parks so they learn about their country and history and you can even take some classes together.
3. Friendship
Having supportive, trustworthy friends greatly improves anyone’s quality of life. If you want your son to develop vibrant relationships and make good friends, set an example he can follow. Let him see what a supportive male friendship looks like by showing him how you and your pals treat each other. Additionally, take an interest in his friends, what they do when hanging out and give him pointers on building solid friendships.
4. Health
Without good health, you can’t enjoy life. This not only refers to physical health but also mental and emotional health. We keep complaining that our kids spend all their time indoors and yet we don’t encourage them to go outside. One of the best ways to do this is to exercise with your son. In addition, ensure that you teach them how to select and prepare nutritious meals and let them see you making healthy food choices every day.
5. Developing Talents
Homing and utilizing your talents goes a long way towards imbuing your life with meaning, drive and passion. This is an important thing to emphasize to our sons. So instead of whining about your job, let your son see you developing your talents. Also, be encouraging and supportive in helping your son nurture his too. You can encourage him to join clubs that suit his interest or make a point of going for his sports games, recitals or whatever tickles his fancy.
Although fatherhood undoubtedly entails a lot of responsibility, the rewards are worth it.
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