Fathers and sons. Together, a dynamic duo and never to be parted. Sons always look up to their fathers. They want to be just like them, and the bond created between a father and son is one that needs to be nurtured and looked after. Finding time to bond with your son is important for your relationship, and without that bond, your son is going to struggle with his self esteem – something you want to avoid!
Bonding to another male figure helps a young boy to find himself in his masculinity, and it is so important that a father works to bond with his son. Boys can learn how to be good leaders when they have a strong male to help them to learn this, and they can wear all the paintball gear they want and learn to fight fair on the right field. A dad can model strength, help a young boy to be vulnerable with his emotions and teach him how to cook, clean and look after himself as an independent individual. Below, we have five tips to help a father to bond with his son.
- Making time. A young boy looking up to his father looks for time with him above everything and anything else. Even if a dad doesn’t have much time in the week, carving out 30 minutes every day just to spend time chatting, playing ball, video games and even sharing a meal will mean so much. Choosing to have that time together shows your son that you care about his mental health and wellbeing and your son will learn to respect that time you have.
- Ask for his advice. One of the best ways that a father and son can bond is when a father asks his son for his advice and help. Boys want to learn how to do things, but more than that, they want to be able to show off their knowledge. Something as simple as the chores in the house can bring you both together and you can bring your son in on some activities around the house and teach him something new!
- Listen. It’s oh, so simple, and it works. Listen to your son. When he comes to you to talk or vent, ask him: “Are we problem-solving, or are we listening today?” So that he can control the conversation and choose whether he needs you to tell him what to do, or whether he needs a kind ear to help him through his venting.
- Let him choose. As an adult, it’s tempting to choose all of the activities. If you’re interested in bonding with your son, you should think about letting him control the conversation a little and choose the direction of your activities. For example, he may love video games with you, but if you don’t give him enough time on those video games, he will lose interest in playing with you.
Bonding time is all about expression of love, and whether you choose to do this with your time, your words or your physical act of hugging (all three is best!) get bonding together for the ultimate father-son relationship.
