Vermont Dads Group

TIPS FOR DADS AND FATHER FIGURES

(From The Fathering Project)

From providing a listening ear, to setting a positive example, dads have a unique and important role to play in their teen's development and the adult they become. Even if our children haven't reached the teen years yet, it is interesting to think about our role in supporting them when they do.

Teenager’s brains are still developing during these critical years, so it's important to keep this in mind in how you show up and communicate with them. The teen years can come with many challenges, but what they need most, is their dad to listen, communicate and be there for them.

​​​​​​                                                                            Top Tips

1. Let them know you will always be there to support them even though you know they will want to be more independent sometimes. 

2. Reason with them. Although at times difficult, modelling thoughtful decision making is important. We need to calmly guide them through conflicts and settle them down with reasoning.  

3. Aim for calm communication so your teen can be rational. When environments are stressful, the emotional part of a teen’s brain can take over and they can find it hard to reason. 

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                                                                   Dad joke of the week

What do a tick and the Eiffel Tower have in common? They're both Paris sites