How to be a good role model for your children A father-child bond is lovely and fortunate. A baby’s life is shaped by his father from the moment of his birth. He consistently imparts wise counsel to his son and leads him in the right path. Over the course of his child’s childhood, he becomes into his friend, mentor, teacher, and best friend. Set a good example There are many things you can do to build a strong bond with your son. Whether we realize it or not, sons primarily learn to be a man by watching their fathers. A father’s influence on his son’s personal development is often invisible, but real nonetheless. By observing how their fathers interact with others, including their partner, young men learn about respect (or disrespect), how men treat others, and how men should deal with conflict and difference. Understanding that a father’s influence on his son is unmatched will help you think more deeply about your relationship with your son and take your responsibility to be a good role model seriously. To spend time together As a father, make sure you give your son time for one-on-one conversations. This time together lets your son know that you care about him, especially when you make time for him in a very busy schedule. Spending time together also shows that they are a priority in your life and that you enjoy being with them. While they are young you can play outside, read books, build with Lego or play a game. When they are older and have clearer interests, try to get involved in things they enjoy as well. Whether your son loves basketball or debates, you can find ways to get involved. Play basketball in the driveway or learn how to be a debate judge when they’re in high school. Some of your best memories will be of the times you spent together doing something you are passionate about. Additionally, there is evidence that a father’s involvement in activities supports his son’s cognitive, language, and socio-emotional development.1 Here are some things fathers and sons can do together. Work on a hobby together. Some fathers enjoy spending time with their sons when they find a common hobby. Whether it’s memorabilia collecting, building model airplanes, gardening or restoring an old car, find something you both love and do it together. Participate in father-son activities. Local communities and schools often organize father-son events like fishing derbies, game nights and more, so be sure to take advantage of these events. The Boy Scouts also offer the opportunity to socialize. Father-son duos can camp, hike, work on merit badges, and spend time together. You might even consider becoming an adult Scouter volunteer. Volunteer for your son’s extracurricular activities. If your son is involved in extracurricular activities, look for opportunities to get involved. For example, you may volunteer to be a timekeeper at a swim meet, a linesman at a volleyball game, an escort at a band competition, or an usher at a school game. No matter your son’s activities and interests, there are always ways to get involved. Do sports together. Although mentioning sports conjures up images of traditional sports like soccer, basketball, and baseball, don’t let that limit you. There are many sports that fathers and sons can do together like running, hiking, rock climbing, skateboarding, volleyball, swimming and even ice hockey. Develop common interests Father-son relationships can feel strained at times, especially when your interests seem to conflict. However, with a little effort, you can usually find something that you both find interesting. These shared interests allow you to discover common ground while maximizing the time you spend together doing something you both enjoy. Finding common interests benefits your father-son relationship in many ways. For example, if you share an interest with someone, you get a glimpse of who that person is.