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5 Things Every Daughter Needs to Hear from Her Dad

Girls…They’re wired a little differently than boys. Okay, they’re wired way differently than boys. If you have both in your family like ours does, you know that at times they can be as different as night and day. And as a result, your daughter needs to be loved differently than your boys. She needs a rock to lean on. She needs to possess your confidence in her and your verbal and physical affection towards her. She is tender and more fragile. And one of the greatest ways she interprets your love is through your words.

While boys feel love when you spend time being rough and tough or playing outside together, girls often interpret that same kind of love in different ways, like when you speak kindly to them, or just simply listen to them. Your words have the opportunity to give your daughter the wings to fly or crush her before she ever has a chance to get off the ground. Because of this, here are 5 things that you need to tell your daughter regularly.

1. “You are beautiful inside and out.”

Every girl longs to know that she is beautiful. And she needs to hear it from her father. This reinforces what God already says about her, and meets a very real need that she has for validation in your eyes.

2. “I love you so much.”

In addition to showing your love, your daughter loves to hear the words, “I love you.” And she needs to hear them often.

3. “I believe in you.”

Girls have a lot of big dreams in their hearts, and your daughter can do just about anything she sets her mind to when she knows that you are fully behind her and cheering her on all the way. Let her know regularly that you believe in her dreams and goals and are so proud of her for reaching for them.

4. “I’m so lucky to be your dad.”

Your job as a dad is to make your daughter feel like the luckiest girl in all of the world, and what better way to do it than to regularly remind her that you are the luckiest guy in all of the world. Because you are the one person who gets the privilege of being called her daddy.

5. “What’s on your mind? Let’s talk.”

Girls are wired to talk. Dads need to learn to listen. And even better yet, Dads need to learn to initiate times of conversation and listening with their daughter. Take some time to step into her room at night and ask her what’s on her mind, or randomly take her out for a drink or a meal just so the two of you can talk. She’ll love you for it, and both of you will benefit from it.

Sound off: Which of these do you need to tell your daughter this week?

Check out the All Pro Dad team discuss words kids long to hear in this podcast:

Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Has there been a time when you didn’t believe you were going to do well?”