soumitra.JPGBy Soumitra Chakraborty

There is nothing as exciting, fulfilling and joyous as becoming a parent is for the first time. First time parenthood however, can also be fraught with tremendous stress brought about by anticipation, preparation & caring for a little creature who cannot tell you what he/she needs or wants. For people who have actively sought parenthood however, it is probably this additional aspect of stress & tension that makes parenthood such a wonderfully strengthening & humbling experience.

‘It is much easier to become a father than to be one’-Kent Nerburn

Parenting involves both the mother & father. Here are some essential tips for an ideal father, as fatherhood occupies a great deal in making the child’s future.

1) Physical touch
It is absolutely vital for a father to develop a close attachment with his child by bathing, feeding him and hugging him, if the situation permits him to do so. This non-spoken, physical contact can strengthen a father-child bonding.

2) Be a good listener
A father should patiently listen to whatever a child wants to tell him. A father should allow his child to tell him everything about his/her daily activities, and also bear, to a great extent to the pranks he/she plays throughout the day.

3) Tolerance
Tolerance of a father is much necessary and added to this; his thoughtful company will give the child a profound feeling of protection and security. A father should discipline his child in a proper manner with ethical values but should not take recourse to needless resentment or hostility, as this might instill a sense of fear in the child and in the long run the child might turn disrespectful towards him.

4) No fights in front of your child 
To preserve a feeling of stability a father should never indulge in physical abuse to the mother in front of the child. Differences amongst the parents can be settled in private.

5) A father should be an ideal to his child
As a father, one should try to be an individual whom the child admires. A father should always be friendly in his attitude towards his child. An ideal father should not be disapproving; but someone, whose decision he can have faith in, someone who is not commanding but on whose ability a child depends on.

Nothing can substitute the influence of a father over his child. Studies indicate that children profit from a beneficial rapport with a father. It’s a common belief that fathers are simply replacement for mothers, but actually, what they give towards the development of their children is exceptional. Studies have revealed that, generally, fathers have a unique way of playing with their children, looking after as well as communicating with them. In short, children need an involved father, and not the kind of a distant father who is only a provider.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 24th, 2008 at 3:28 am and is filed under Parenthood, Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.