Be A Dad: Tip 6 - Be a Teacher

Too many fathers think teaching is something others do.  But a father who teaches about right and wrong, and encourages them to do their best, will see his children make good choices.  Involved fathers use everyday examples to help their children learn the basic lessons of life.  (Taken from NFI’s best-selling brochure, 10 Ways to Be a Better Dad.)  

Tips to be a Father-Teacher

• Start early.  It’s never too early to begin teaching your children about what’s important in life.  From learning that touching the stove is a “no-no” to learning how to drive to learning how to stand up for your values, your kids have a lot to learn from many people – but especially you!  You are one of the first teachers your child will ever have, and you’ll be there well after formal education ends too.
  
  
• Encourage them!  A positive word from you can do wonders in motivating a child to do their best, to try again after a mistake, and to explore their talents and interests.  Make sure your kids know that you don’t expect perfection from them – you just want expect them to do their best.  Help them to grow in confidence by affirming their strengths and talents.  If it's hard for you to find the words to say, consider writing them in a note to your child.
  
  
• Help them learn from mistakes.  Just like you, your children are going to make mistakes – whether it’s in school work and extra-curricula activities or in friendships and responsibilities.  When that happens, don’t get upset – talk through the mistake with them and help them figure out what they can do differently next time.  Role playing can be helpful.  Going through the “school of hard knocks” can be one of the best ways to learn!  Let your kids know you will always be there for them, even when they make mistakes.
  
  
• Share your life experiences.   You have a lot to offer, Dad!  What you’ve experienced both as you were growing up and as an adult can be really valuable to your kids.  Not only can your experiences provide helpful life lessons, a few of them might make your kids laugh too!