Take Time to Be a Dad Today!

Being a dad is simple really. It is a job that doesn’t come with an instruction manual so you just have to wing it sometimes. But when you boil it down to the basics, it is simple. Be there with and for your kids, treasure your time with them. By spending time with them, you are showing them how important they are to you. Is that it? Of course not. But that is where it all begins.

Every man is capable of being a great dad! Eighty-six percent of dads spend more time with their children today than their own fathers did with them. According to a national survey conducted by the Ad Council, a majority of dads (7 out of 10) also reported that they could use tips on how to be a better parent. But don’t sell yourself short. If you are taking time out of your day and spending time with your kids, you are a good dad. If you plan dates with your kids, you are a good dad. Everything else is just “details.”

Take Po for example. He was able to overcome some unique circumstances because of his relationship with this father. With the love and advice from dad, Po came out on top!

Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal activity compared to children who have uninvolved fathers.
Every dad ever has, at one point or another, had that sinking fear that he will not be a great dad. That he will mess it up; that he will be a failure. But guess what? That’s all a part of the job; it comes with the territory.

Need some ideas? Visit Fatherhood.gov or here are a few to get you started:

·         Make breakfast, lunch or dinner together.

·         Go on a hike.

·         Read a book together.

·         Collect props from around the house and take pictures of each other.

·         Plan a picnic, even indoors if it is cold.

·         Plan a short road trip.

·         Create a story together and make a book.

·         Play sports together

Get creative! The options are truly limitless.

Help me and others share a message to dads everywhere: Take Time To Be A Dad Today! Visit the Ad Council or Fatherhood.gov for more resources on what you can do to make your time with your kids count!