Every conscious father is worried about not being able to be a good dad to his kids. Parenting is a task that doesn’t come with a manual. One has to completely depend on their instincts and wing it. It can be tough, especially for new dads, to find someone they can look up to. If you have no idea how to be a better parent, here are 17 ways to be a good dad to a toddler.
1. Be present
Paying attention and being present are crucial. Emotionally or physically absent dads cause a huge impact on the kid’s overall well-being. Although toddlers are not considered the ones to notice, contrary to the fact, they are extremely observant of the people around them.
2. Keep your eyes and ears open
Toddlers demand undivided attention. They won’t settle for just listening. Instead, they want you to see what they are talking about too. Plus, keeping your eyes and ears open will also help you to locate the quiet toddler messing around somewhere in the house. Trust me, they should stay in front of you rather than out of sight.
3. Learn their cues
Kids are not the best communicators when it comes to words, in particular the 1-3 year age group. The two most common things they know to act in problematic situations are either crying or feeling uneasy. Learning how your child reacts in different situations will build a deeper understanding and a better relationship.
4. Be a role model
Children learn more from observing their parent’s behavior than from the teachings parents provide verbally. It is very common for kids to pick up the habits they see their dad or mom doing. Therefore, be mindful of your actions and act accordingly.
5. Regulate your emotions
It is best to keep your explosive emotions under control for your betterment and the well-being of your toddler. Throwing things, using bad words, yelling, or misbehaving is either going to make your toddler do the same or, worst, get scared of you. As a parent, the last thing you would want to do is scare your child to back off and hide in fright.
6. Spend quality time
You will be amazed at how quickly kids grow up. The best you can do to be a good dad to a toddler is to invest your time in them. They truly need their dad to sit with them, talk one-on-one, and engage with them. Watching TV, talking on your phone, or similar gestures when you are with your kids don’t qualify for quality time.
7. Don’t micromanage
Yes, they may be 2 years old, but toddlers love doing things on their own. Your adult self will push you to be authoritative and control your toddler until they submit to your orders, but this will tarnish your relationship with them and their mental health. The simplest thing is to let them be. You can protect them, but don’t try to micromanage their every move.
8. Get creative
Free play allows kids to explore and color outside the box. It also benefits children in many ways. Free play works wonders for the child’s imagination, creativity, cognitive development, and several other skills. Play pretend, dress up, or create forts with blocks to spark your toddler’s creativity and have fun along the way.
9. Don’t pass them over
When your toddler asks for attention, don’t outright reject their invitation or ask them to go to mom or grandma rudely. Scolding them or impulsively asking your partner to take care of your child is not going to sit well with your child. Try listening to your toddler, maintain eye contact, and gently ask them for some time instead.
10. Take responsibility
Get involved with your toddler. Taking responsibility is a wise choice to be a good dad. There is no such thing as mom-duties or dad-duties. As an active parent, a dad should know how to dress, clean, feed, entertain or calm their toddler.
11. Make time to interact
Being there with your toddler is all that counts. Even if you are busy the whole day, make time to play or interact with your toddler for a while. You can read to them and let them read to you too. Or you can simply talk to them about their day and explain a little about yours. Remember, action speaks louder than words.
12. Hold your stance
Having freedom is all good, but there should be limits as well. It is not always good to stick to the extremes of either saying “yes” or “no”. Therefore, teach them that there are boundaries to follow and if they don’t abide by them, then disciplinary actions will be taken. Giving in to the toddler’s tantrums is a long-shot loss on your end.
13. Manage screen time
Screen time like TV, tablets, or phones is awful for a child’s health. It restricts their mental and physical growth, making them sedentary and sluggish. Manage their screen time so that they can stay active and focus on the surrounding things rather than on the screens.
14. Take care of your health
You cannot be your best version if you ignore self-care. And self-care is not just about being physically fit. It means to have healthy emotional, mental, social, and spiritual health as well. Taking care of yourself will enable you to be in the right state of health to be there for your children when they need you the most.
15. Respect your partner
Some dads can be physically or emotionally abusive towards their partners. This cycle will continue with the kids as well. If you treat your kid’s mother with disrespect, your kid is going to learn the same behavior. They grow up with voids, trauma, and insecurities. All of which will reflect in their future relationships.
16. Respect your parents
How can you expect your children to respect you if you cannot maintain the line with your parents? Always remember that kids are observing your every move, even the toddlers. Treating your parents with respect will set an example for your kids on how to treat you.
17. Respect yourself
Adults go through an array of emotions that kids cannot comprehend. Using bad words, cursing, or hurting yourself is going to let the kids create a picture of you in their heads. They will not only judge your credibility, but also measure their self-esteem on the same parameters.
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Take Away
Commitment, compassion, and care will make you a better dad to a toddler. Ultimately, parenthood is about being physically and emotionally available and meeting your kid’s needs to the best of your capabilities.
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