There are many qualities that make a dad a good dad. Some qualities come naturally to dads and some take effort and are behaviors that are developed over time. Since there isn’t an official manual on being a good dad, a lot of dads are concerned as to whether they have what it takes to be a good dad.
The main resource that a lot of dads use is the experience that they have from their own dad. Whether your dad was present in your life or not, you have learned some behaviors from your dad to some degree. And whether you choose to exhibit those behaviors with your own child is ultimately up to you. This list of qualities that make a dad a good dad will give you some insight as to whether you are a good dad or if there are qualities that you need to improve.
Unwavering support
From the time before your baby is born until their adult years, your child should have your unwavering support. It can be difficult at times, but this is what makes a dad a good dad. Having the ability to support your child throughout their entire life will help strengthen your bond with your child.
Compassion
Children go through a lot of changes in their life and it’s important to demonstrate compassion for your child. There are going to be things that happen in their life that might be insignificant to you but mean everything to your child. Being compassionate no matter how they feel is an important quality to being a good dad. Combine this quality with an endearing attitude and your child will wholeheartedly know that you genuinely care.
Quality Time
A good dad carves out time in their life to devote to their child. And the time spent with their child has been about quality over quantity. It’s important for a dad to be engaged while spending time with their kid. This means very limited distractions, like mobile devices if it can be helped. Giving a child your undivided attention shows the child that you are emotionally invested in growing your relationship and bond.
Acceptance
From the outset, children need to feel acceptance from their dad. No matter what the circumstances, a good dad accepts their child for everything they are, the good and the bad. Being a dad isn’t easy sometimes and the more you demonstrate this quality with your child, the easier it can be to parent your child.
Guidance
You’re a dad and you have life experience that you can pass onto to your child. Guiding your kid through life as best you can is a great quality of a good dad. Teaching them right from wrong and good from bad will serve them tremendously well through their entire life. As a parent, providing guidance is part of the territory. Draw from your own experiences or develop the skills that you need to provide the best guidance by reading or taking courses.
Setting Boundaries
Instilling values and setting boundaries with children gives them structure in their life. As they grow up and respect people that hold positions of authority, a child should understand what’s expected of them from their father. A sign of a good dad is one that sets boundaries with his child. Influencing their decisions is part of setting boundaries. This quality also requires good communication skills.
Patience
Having a child requires a lot of patience. From the time they are an infant to the time that they are a young adult, and sometime beyond, a good dad demonstrates a moderate to a high degree of patience. If a dad is not patient, it can lead to a lot of frustration and anger. And as a result of this, it can lead to a lot of resentment from the child.
Encouragement
An exceptional quality of a good dad to have is the ability to always be encouraging towards his child. Being their biggest fan is key and so is being supportive. Showing signs of support and encouragement through their life does contribute to their self esteem. The more that a child is encouraged and supported by their dad, the more comfortable they will feel.
Being a role model
Leading by example is important when being a role model. Children not only retain what they hear but they also learn from what they see. If you are doing your best to be a good person and your child sees this, then this will increase the chances that they will be a good person too. It can be easily overlooked but your words and your actions have an impact on how your child will conduct themselves in life. Striving to be a good role model is a great characteristic of a dad that is a good dad.
Give respect
Many people think that you should only give respect to adults but children deserve respect too. They are human beings with their own thoughts, ideas, behaviors and feelings. A good dad will give their child their respect and in-turn, in most cases, the dad will earn the respect back from this child. As an adult, showing signs of respect early on sets the tone for the duration of the father-child relationship.
Transfer knowledge
At this stage in your life, you should have a vast amount of life experience and knowledge that you can pass onto your child. Transfer some aloof of this knowledge to your child will equip them for things that they will experience in their life. As the father, instilling this knowledge in your child is powerful. Especially if it’s valuable skills and traits that will help your child excel in life.
Being dependable
Doing what you say is tremendously important when being dependable. It’s important to not get into the habit of over-promising and under-delivering. This just sets your child up for disappointment. Setting realistic expectations builds trust and confidence in your child. There are going to be instances that you may not be one hundred percent reliable but it’s best to take the step necessary to avoid these instances.
Be empathetic and understanding
Whether you were prepared to have a child or not, being a parent can be challenging most times. Not only are you busy with your own life but you have to be empathetic to those around, especially your kid. It won’t matter if they are hungry or if they scraped their knee bike riding, being empathetic and understanding is a good trait of a good father. You may already demonstrate this behavior, which is great. But if you feel that you need work in these areas, there are a lot of self-improvement videos and courses that you can seek out to help you improve.
Trustworthy
Being trustworthy is such an important part of being a good dad. Building trust is key to strengthening the bond between you and your child. And trust can be broken so easily. Your child should feel comforted by you and feel safe in your presence. It shouldn’t be awkward or feel like there is an elephant in the room. Open communication plays a big part in building trust. Your child should feel like they can talk to you about anything. This will help you stay engaged with your child.
Respect to mom
Regardless if you are in a relationship with the mother of your child or not, it’s important to be respectful to her for your child’s sake. When a child sees how you treat their mom, they start to digest this information and use it in different facets of their life. When you’re respectful, it sends the message to the child that no matter the relationship status between you and the mother, dad is always respectful. And that is a very commendable trait of a good dad.
Affection
A behavior that some dads often overlook is showing affection to their child. Hugs are great and hugs are an effective way to show affection. Even using endearing and encouraging words is a sign of affection. Most men choose not to get too emotional but it’s important for your child to see that you are affectionate because there are things that a son needs from a dad and there are things that a daughter needs from her dad.
Open-minded
Kids are creative and they tend to come up with a variety of ideas. A good dad is open-minded to all of the possibilities that their child may throw at them. Operating with this mindset leaves little room for surprise and shock. How you respond and act is a totally different topic but if you can remain open-minded when it comes to your child then there will be very little that will catch you off guard.
Summary
Most of the qualities on this list are generally qualities and values that most dads inherently have or are capable of. If you are questioning whether you are a good dad or not, you may have noticed from this list that you probably possess most of the qualities that make a dad a good dad. Caring for a child should come naturally and so should a lot of these traits. So, as long as you’re doing your best to be a good dad then you are on the right path.
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