Weather it is a girl child or a boy child, role of a father in the upbringing of a child is as important as a mother’s role. Here are some tips for dads of preteens which can help them to pay attention to the right areas of their child’s growth and development.Michael finds it difficult to handle his son who has just stepped into his preteens. His son, Ryan, is only 11 years old and Michael feels that it is the right time to take proper care of his son. He is keen to know about the requirements of his son and become a friend for his son so that his son opens up with all the problems he is facing.
Why Handling Preteens is Tough?
Children who are in their preteens are going through transition period. They can neither fit into the kids’ group nor can they join adults. At times even parents fail to understand the confusion the preteen children are going through. Both dads and moms play important role in upbringing of children. Depending on whether it is a girl child or a boy, dads have to handle their preteen child differently.
When a child is in his or her preteen age, he or she will have different requirements which many parents fail to understand. Dads feel that their preteen child is drifting away as the child wants to become more independent but at the same time preteen children do need the company of their parents and would love to spend enough time with them. Here are some of the best tips for dads of preteens that will help them to handle their children better.
Showing Affection
Many preteens do not like to show or receive affection in public especially the male child but dads must not take it personally. Dads can always show their affection in private and also recognize their special skills so that deep in mind the child will understand that he or she is still valued for his dad. Love and care shown by dads give great mental assurance to the children which ultimately help them to grow into a better human being.
Dealing with the Problems
Dads of preteens must listen to the problems of their children carefully. Problems can be of different types. Coping up with the
peer pressure is sometimes difficult for the preteens. Dads must talk to their preteen children to find about various activities they do in school, their co-curricular activities and their friends. This will help them to understand their children better and the children will open up with their problems too.
Teaching Good Habits
To keep preteens in strict boundary of
disciplineis a tough job but parents have to try hard so that in future the child gets the best result of their good habits. Dads must teach their preteen children to have self-respect and respect for others. Arguments can make situation worse so the best way to make them understand the difference between good and bad is through reasoning.
Helping Academically
The children who are into the age group of 9 to 12 years are going to be into their middle school and dads need to inquire about their
academic development on regular basis. Regular interaction with the teachers, going through the assessments and talking to the children will help dads to understand how his child is doing academically. In case any help is needed that should be arranged for the preteen child.
Health and Hygiene
Preteen children should be made to understand about personal and community hygiene. Eating healthy foods and importance of physical activity must also be explained to these children. Parents have to set example to these children by eating healthy and doing exercise.
Entertainment
Dads can take their
girl child for shopping or for an eat-out. Male child can be taken to camping or to a sports event. This will increase closeness of fathers to their preteen children.
Dads must take equal responsibility towards their preteen children as their moms so that children can get a normal childhood and become good and responsible individuals in future.
What is the role of a dad in the upbringing of a preteen? Why is a dad’s involvement important in the upbringing of a preteen? What kind of issues can dads face while raising a preteen? Discuss here. 
