What Dads Do Best

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More and more folks are concerned about this generation of children we`re raising. Studies show that family relationships play a huge role in the character development of children, and even more important, that dads play a vital role in modeling and parenting their kids.

When you want to know what`s what, the best thing to do is to go straight to the source, so here it is. This panel of experts shares what kinds of things their dads do that help them be the kind of person they want to be.

“They influence you in good ways,” says Michael Mortenson, age 15. “He`s an influence by giving us a male role model in our household, and encouraging us to go out and try different things, like sports. Basketball and football. He started me at a young age at t-ball and we do this together a lot as a family.”

His 13 year-old sister, Kendra Mortenson, agrees. “I think reading really helps with kids and their education, and it really helps to get smarter at a younger age and explore their world. Spending time with dads is important because they give you a model to look up to and they give a lot of information you`ll need when you`re older.”

Obviously time and attention are heavy hitters with this group, but what else does a dad contribute?

“I think dads are important because they teach you to be better people when you`re older,” explains Brett Mortenson, age 9. “They teach you to do sports and ride your bike and stuff. The biggest thing I admire about my dad is he`s really nice and he cares about a lot of people.”

It`s also important to understand that dads are completely different from moms.

For example: “Daddies are like boys because they`re like different,” clarifies 7 year old Rebecca Brydl. “Some boys don`t get their ears pierced, and moms do, and some boys don`t wear necklaces that much, and some boys don`t have a lot of hair.”

The kids also said they like to tell their dads things when they`re doing something or going somewhere, and the most important thing is if he does what he says he`s going to do. Adult experts say that play is critical. Dads play differently than moms do. They talk differently and they show boys how to be men and how to treat women, while they model to their daughters how to expect to be treated by other males.

SOURCE