On Valentine’s Day and everyday dads have opportunities to teach their children about love when they:
Model love
Modeling love is a way of showing your children how to love, how to give love and how to receive love. Fathers can reveal the power of love through demonstration and participation. Love is modeled in ways that your child will be able to appreciate when you exhibit behaviors that clearly show your children what it means to give and receive love. Whether it is showing how much he loves his children, his children’s mother or other family members or friend, modeling love is walking the talk. Dads promote and talk about the love that they have for their children and make certain that the child can hear it. Children need to know that you love them enough to hear you share it with others.
Show love
A father’s presence is a positive symbol of how much he loves his children. Being present speaks volumes to your child about the seriousness of your love. Showing love takes many different forms and is done in multiple ways from the simplest of things like a quick phone call, an email or text message to say hello or a surprise visit to his child’s school. A dad demonstrates love to his child when he makes his son or daughter feel special or value their accomplishments. A child picks up what you show more than what you know. The lesson comes when a dad gives and does what is important to the child and not himself. All dads are different and it is okay to show love in your special way.
Receive love
There is nothing more precious than that slight squeeze from an infant or a dance around the room with your daughter on your feet. As you show your child love your child will proudly be able to answer the question, “how do you know that your dad loves you?” Your child will say things like “daddy comes to my school and picks me up” or “daddy likes to push me on the swing” or “daddy holds my bike as I learn to ride.” Hearing your child say, “I love you” is powerful and it shows that your child understands the feelings that you shared with them and can reciprocate in their own, special way.
Darrell V. Freeman, Author, National Speaker and Trainer Specializing in Successful Fatherhood, Healthy Adult Relationships and Positive Youth Development
Resources
Love is: a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/love
Father Presence is important in teaching: The National Center on Educational Outcomes suggests that, “Hands-on participation is as important as verbal participation in the activity.” http://nceo.info
10 Hands-On Activities to Teach Children about Love: http://www.momentsaday.com/activities-to-teach-children-about-love/
—
Originally published on fatherhood.gov and reprinted from the public domain under the following guidelines.
***
Does dating ever feel challenging, awkward or frustrating?
Turn Your Dating Life into a WOW! with our new classes and live coaching.
Click here for more info or to buy with special launch pricing!
***
On Substack? Follow us there for more great dating and relationships content.
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.—
Photo credit: iStock
