What a Father Is Worth

The Invaluable Lessons Dads Teach Us

By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

"Regardless of age or gender, you can have a beneficial conversation with your child," says Debbie Rymza, a personal life coach and communications expert from New Brunswick, N.J.

Toddlers love to talk about their toys or their imaginary friends. Elementary aged children talk about who ate a bug on the playground or who is the best-dressed girl in third grade. Older kids love to talk about themselves! Whatever topic suits the timing, take five to 10 minutes to talk with your child and you're certain to uncover something you didn't know before the conversation.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone whom you felt wasn't paying attention? The other party probably seemed preoccupied or blindly answered "yes" and "uh-huh" occasionally without absorbing what you said. "You don't want your child to feel his thoughts are not valuable to you," says Rymza. "Look at your child when he talks to you."

Show him he's important enough to stop what you're doing and address him. You'll give him much more than respect and your attention when communicating. He'll gain self-esteem and confidence in his thoughts. "He'll feel less anxious to communicate with peers as well as in professional or social settings later in life," says Rymza

"Kids whose fathers play with them in sensitive, supportive and challenging ways at age 2 tend to form closer, more trusting relationships later in life," says Mazurski. Play with your child in a way he can understand. For example, stimulate and encourage your toddler or child by challenging him to build a fort out of rolls of paper towels.

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SAH Mom	Working Mom
SAH Dad	Working Dad
Adoptive Parent	Grandparent
Parent of Twins	Special Needs Parent

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What a Father Is Worth

The Invaluable Lessons Dads Teach Us

By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW

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