Parenting

Father's role in parenting: Guide for fathers



Wonderful and healthy parenting is one that involves both mothers and fathers taking active participation in a child’s life. The role of a father in the family is incredibly important to their children's psychological and physical wellbeing.

They say, any man can be a child’s father, but being a good dad takes a lifetime. The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself but for his family.

Being a dad can be one of the most fulfilling and challenging experiences in life. Read our guide to find more about the father’s role, common mistakes dads make, and positive parenting tips for being an engaged, supportive, and loving dad.

Father's role in parenting

Scientific research shows that if fathers are actively involved in their child’s growing up years, then children have fewer behavioral problems and become better individuals socially and academically. The role of the father is not limited to being the “breadwinner” of the family. Most children who share a close and warm relationship with their fathers tend to grow up and become more confident adults.

As children grow up, the father can take on the role of a playmate, friend, guide, and mentor. Read on to understand the different roles fathers play at different stages of their child’s life.

Fathers And New-born Babies

While mothers provide emotional stability, fathers provide security and confidence in their child's life. Fathers tend to provide more physical stimulation than mothers and contribute to the healthy development of the baby's brain. Babies who grow up with motivated parents are more likely to grow up well-groomed, happy, and successful.


Fathers and Toddlers

At this stage, the father plays the role of a guide, who not only helps his child to explore but also sets the appropriate limits. As mothers are generally loaded with household chores, fathers often turn into playmates for their children. They should set strict and clear behavioral boundaries and thereby encourage children to gain self-confidence and help them to develop problem-solving skills.

Fathers and School-going children

Fathers encourage children to accept more challenges and be successful at them when their children arrive at an age where they begin going to school. While mothers are more protective of their children, fathers encourage them to be more independent and confident. The most important thing that a child learns from his father is to respect others. A child emulates his parents and behaves in the same way.

Father as a Role model

Whether they realize it or not, fathers are role models to their children. A girl who spends time with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect by boys and she learns what to look for in a partner.

Fathers teach boys what is important in life by demonstrating honesty, humility, and responsibility.

The role of a father is always changing in our modern world. Fathers today may be expected to parent and assist with household chores equally with their partners. Within the family, fathers can take on multiple roles which may include:

  • Financial contributors
  • Supportive partners
  • Loving parents
  • Stay at home parents
  • Healthy co-parents, even after a breakup or divorce.

6 Most Common Mistakes Dads Make

Fathers don't usually start out wanting to make mistakes. Too often though, they only rely on their 'parenting instincts’. All those mistakes that fathers make can lead to unintended results and create obstacles to children's future good behavior and harmonious development.

Learning to overcome these common parenting mistakes will get you a long way towards being a more effective parent:

Not spending enough time with your children

Spending time together can be anything from helping with homework, eating dinner together, fixing a bike tire, helping them clean their room, taking them to a medical appointment, shopping for their needs, etc.

Playing or engaging in family events also will provide a father with opportunities to teach children some wise life lessons, like sharing or dealing with winning and losing.

Being Inconsistent

Few things can harm your children more than an inconsistent parenting style. If you are sometimes very strict, but give in other times or simply don't seem to care what your children are doing, they will have a very hard time knowing what is expected of them and how to act.

Losing Temper

Sometimes the child's behavior becomes unbearable, but the father should always try to keep calm and not raise his voice. If the child usually faces swearing, anger, and yelling in the family, this model of behavior may be acceptable for their relationships with friends and family.


If the father has already made such a mistake, it is best to admit you’ve done something wrong and to apologize. There’s nothing more powerful than a parent admitting their faults and offering a sincere apology.

Protecting children From Consequences

Nobody wants to see their children suffer. However, when your kid does something wrong, you should let him or her suffer the consequences, rather than remove the consequences for them. For example, if your kid forgets to do a project at the last minute, you should let him or her get a bad grade, rather than rushing to do the project for them. The dad’s instinct is to rescue, but by doing so, you allow your kid to skip out on really important life lessons.

Being Too Disciplined

You don’t always want to be the parent, but you don’t want to only be seen as a strict disciplinarian either. Discipline is important, but you don’t want your children to fear you. Try not to yell at your children or dole out overly harsh punishments. Leading with love is always more effective than leading with harshness.

Comparing Your Child to Others

It may be tempting to compare your kid to others. However, in reality, it’s best not to compare your kid to anyone but just to enjoy him exactly as he is. children develop differently, at different times and in different stages. Avoid comparing your kid to others in your life so you don’t feel unnecessarily worried, compelled to push them, or bragging about them disproportionately.

Luckily, though, making mistakes while parenting is common, and if you can learn some of the most common errors dads make, you can do your best to avoid them.

Parenting Tips for Dads

Being entrusted with the responsibility and care of another person is a monumental task but none is more rewarding than becoming a father and seeing your child grow gradually into adulthood, with your affection returned in good measure and your child's self-worth confirmed.

Hopefully, these parenting tips can provide some guidance to dads trying to learn how to become engaged, supportive, and loving fathers.

  • Be kind, nurturing, and genuinely connecting with your child without distractions
  • Set appropriate boundaries and discipline appropriately (no violence, no yelling, no withholding affection, and no prolonged punishment)
  • Do not impose or project your ideas on the child
  • Give your child the space to be themselves
  • Offer acceptance and compassion
  • Earn the right to be heard. Take time to listen to your child's ideas and problems.
  • Be your child's teacher. To be a good father, teach your children about right and wrong and encourage them to do their best.
  • Eat together as a family. An important part of healthy family life is bonding through family meals.
  • Respect the other parent of your child. Parents who respect each other and demonstrate mutual respect to their children, provide a secure environment for them.
  • Seek involvement early. When fathers are involved, they send a clear and emphatic message: "I want to be your father. I am interested in you and we have a relationship that is important to me."


A word from Tripsome

Fathers play a role in every child's life that others cannot fulfill. At our Baku-based startup, Tripsome, we promote a nurturing father-child relationship that furthers the development of children’s achievement, peer popularity, and personal adjustment.

It is never too late to rethink child behavior strategies and become loving fathers, who provide reasonable, firm guidance to their children and enjoy spending time with a child.

children grow up quickly and the time to bond is now. There are plenty of fun eventsyou can BOOK to spend family time with children on our website. Go ahead, check “Activities”, choose the event you like, and relive more happy parenting moments!