The role of the father in child development has always been very important but its interpretation has changed many times over the years. Although it also varies across cultures, many homes have taken a progressive take on parenting unlike the way it used to be.
The mother is no longer solely responsible for the child’s rearing and other needs and the father is more than just the breadwinner of the family.
The role of a father is important for the complete development of a child into a self-reliant individual. The level of involvement of the father in the upbringing of the child has a direct impact on his character and significantly influences the character, behavior and personality of the child.
Below are the various roles that a father plays in a child’s life:
Shield:
For generations the father has been revered as a protector and rightly so; A father needs to provide physical, mental, and emotional security to his child. This also includes protection from insecure feelings. As a father, you have to reassure your child that you will always be there for them, so they can feel safe and fearless.
Teacher:
A father plays the role of teaching the right values and principles to the child. Contains:
- Value your beliefs and the values essential to personal and social development.
- Skills to enable the child to face the world.
- Basic life skills like bathing, changing clothes, washing hands, etc.
- Lessons in self-worth.
Being a teacher, it is essential to have a well-balanced approach, which involves providing the right motivation along with persistence.
Source of inspiration:
This cannot be emphasized enough. You should always lead by example. The best way to convey right values to children is by demonstrating right behavior. This not only turns you from a preacher to a role model but it gives them a sense of confidence that what they are learning is actually true.
Friend:
A child’s first friends are his parents. You, as a father, should always be ready to listen to what they have to say without showing any bias or your reactions when making decisions.
You must pick them up when they fall, but be prepared to sink into the sand with them sometimes. When children get a corner in the father’s mind, they learn better and do not hide things.
It helps in creating a positive and favorable environment at home.
Counselor:
You should be available to give advice when they need it. Remember that there is a fine line between speech and advice. As a counselor, you can empathize with what they are going through and make them feel comfortable talking to you. This way the child is not afraid of you and seeks your opinion when facing problems.
This is a special responsibility, handle it wisely
As a father, it’s natural to sometimes feel overwhelmed by the pressures of creative parenting. However, when you start to see the impact of your thoughtful approach in building the child’s character, you will know that you succeeded.