How to Bond with Your Kids – According to Neuroscience
Research reveals the amazing science behind creating a strong, lasting bond between parent and child, helping the child develop into a secure, well-rounded and independent person. “I think it should be cool to be a good partner, a good spouse, a good father… If I’m one of the people who ...
Homeschooling Requires Routine, But Flexibility is Still the Key Ingredient
While homeschooling, a timetable is necessary, but so is the ability to pivot and make space for unexpected events. A balance of routine and flexibility will create a healthy learning environment. Make this an axiom: routine is life, yet without flexibility, a routine life is dull. Without elasticity, routine devolves ...
Dad-Life Hacks for Raising a Strong-Willed Child
Parenting a strong-willed child can be challenging, but with various techniques, it can be very rewarding. Channel their energy into productive activities, and communicate clearly with them to achieve mutual goals. I’ll begin by saying: I love my strong-willed child. She’s full of light, is daring, boisterous, spirited, and loud. ...
The Art of Fathering – from Naivety to Nappies
Nappy changing is an acquired skill. Once you have mastered this fine art, you can look forward to all the following levels of fatherhood! When it comes to the art and skill of fathering, a lot has changed since the ‘wonder years’ of our father’s or grandfathers’ generation. Oh, the ...
Rethinking the Power and Value of School Holidays
Homeschoolers need holidays too. Breaks are opportunities to grow and flourish as a family -- a valuable time for exploration and rejuvenation. While the home education timetable doesn’t have to follow allotted times for school term breaks set by the government, it is generally a good idea to keep in ...
One Key to Success as a Father
Developing a close friendship with your spouse and children through mutual shared interests helps to cement the bond as a family, creating lasting lifelong relationships. Many people ask us how we have raised five well-balanced, successful children. They are amazed at the close friendship we have as a family. Often, ...
Starter Tips for Beginner Home-Schoolers
A convert to homeschooling explains why he eventually chose this educational path for his children, musing on the variety of resources and the dedication required of homeschooling parents. 2022 marks my 9th year as a home-school dad, as well as my family’s 12th year as homeschoolers. Not bad for a ...
Love is Too Big
Our daughter's recent musical debut paid homage to a childhood memory from Disneyland -- and the love we have given her. “She’s gone,” were the shocked words of my wife. “What do you mean she’s gone?” I said, with an ever-increasing desperate tone. “You were holding her hand a moment ...
Guide Dog Training & Raising Kids – Lesson 3: Two is Better Than One
Working together with your spouse in parenting and disciplining your children makes it all the more effective. Now to introduce our second pup. His name was Chance and he was a very handsome Black Labrador. Chance was a “by the rule book” pup and loved people’s company on his terms. ...
Brotherhood of Fathers
Here are some excellent Australian support groups for men going through the painful process of divorce. No man is an island. By supporting single dads, we also support their children, their new romantic partners and other family members. We all need friends. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “No man is useless ...
Meet Rob Kenney: “Internet Dad” + Cure for Fatherlessness
Fatherless father-of-two Rob Kenney has earned the “internet dad” title after millions tuned into a dad-help YouTube channel he created in April 2020. Kenney’s simple “Dad, How Do I?” vlog now has 3.83 million subscribers with over 18.4 million views. The 58-year-old social media “influencer’s” 30-year-old daughter Kristine Ponten attributes ...
My Daughter’s Sleepover: Fun at All Costs
The challenge of being a dad really increases when your only daughter turns ten years old. This happened to me many years ago, but it could be very relevant to you right now. We had four boys, and then my wife got her wish and daddy got his dream. The ...
Watching Cricket Together
Life with a baby turns regular activities into entirely new and wonderful experiences. It’s hard to believe so much time has passed. My son, Seth, is now ten weeks old, and so intelligent he’s bound to make a future Prime Minister. (Not that I’m biased!) Recently, I reflected on my ...
Field Trips: The Benefits for Dads and their Kids
Field trips bring lasting benefits for fathers and their children, providing life lessons and character-building opportunities. If like me, you were a kid in the 1980s, chances are you remember watching The Waltons. The two-story white house, Mary-Ellen, John-Boy, the sawmill, Ike and the general store; the yellow rumble-seat car, ...
Parenting Styles – Which One is Best?
An examination of various parenting styles and reflection on our own modes of parenting, can be very beneficial in honing our parenting skills for the sake of our children as they grow and mature under our guidance and discipline. Two of the best parenting styles are ‘democratic’ and ‘authoritative’. The ...
Homeschooling – the Challenges & the Benefits
Consider the benefits of homeschooling your children. The challenges are worth the effort to raise independent thinkers of solid faith and good character, with a firm foundation. I know a lot of people baulk at the prospect of homeschooling their kids. Visualising the idea is hampered by what looks like ...
Father of the Bride
Seeing your child grow up and get married is bittersweet, but embrace the changing seasons as part of being a parent. Being the father of the bride is an honour, a momentous occasion, a fresh opportunity to love. The first Father of the Bride movie was shot in 1950. The ...
What Guide Dog Training Taught Me About Raising Kids
Prioritising your spouse, especially in the little daily routines, teaches your children how to respect and honour their mother. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be volunteers for the Guide Dogs for the Blind organisation in our local state after all our kids had grown up and left ...
Men at Work… At Home
Is it possible to mix work and family life in the same space? Do the benefits outweigh the challenges? Prime Minister Gillard described the pressurised life of modern families as the single greatest challenge facing Australians. So what’s the solution? ‘Telecommuting’ or working from home has been put forward as ...
Be Who You Want Your Children to Be
The family is the school of love. Our children learn from us how to become well-functioning adults and potential future spouses and parents. We owe it to them and their progeny to provide a good example of how to live virtuously, paving the foundation for happiness and fulfilment. “Your children ...
Six Things You Don’t Want to Hear From Your Kids When in The Pool
Taking the kids anywhere is always an adventure -- a swim in the pool can give rise to a whole other level of memorable moments! Heading to the pool with three kids in tow is no relaxing feat. Gone are the days of taking a book to the pool and ...
Some People Think Your Family is Unfair!
Just because some people have the privilege of being raised in a happy, well-adjusted and prosperous family, doesn't mean we should make everyone equally miserable. It never ceases to amaze me the crazy ideas that some people come up with. You really have to ask whether some people actually stop ...
Keep Your Kids SunSmart All Year Round
To prevent sunburn now and skin cancer later in life, make sure your children abide by the easy steps to be SunSmart. Sandwich? Check. Water bottle? Check. A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses -- to help your kids stay SunSmart? They should definitely be instant ‘checks’ when packing the schoolbag daily! Here ...
The Joy of Children
Children bring immeasurable joy into our lives. Let us treasure the precious moments we have with them, being present as they explore and discover the world. “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” These are the wise words ...
Preparing Our Kids for Life, Protects Them for Life
Parenthood is the art of making yourself obsolete. It involves ensuring as far as possible that your child has the self-discipline and character to make it through the ups and downs of life, far into the future. They learn from us the tools necessary for resilience and success. Every year, ...
The Surefire Way to Connect With Your Kids
This is a must-do for every dad. If this isn’t at the top of your list, once you have done it, it soon will be. Keep reading to find out. If you want to connect with your kids, I can think of no better way than to … write them ...
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The Daily Dad is a forum for Dads to be able to express themselves and encourage other dads. Mothers write articles as well. The opinions of the various writers are not necessarily the opinion of Dads4Kids. Read More
