Daughters naturally crave connection with their fathers, and they especially cherish emotional and physical affection from their fathers. In fact, according to Meg Meeker’s research, when girls and dads have a stronger connection, daughters do better in life on a number of different levels.
In her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, Meg Meeker states, “Fathers inevitably change the course of their daughters’ lives – and can even save them. From the moment you set eyes on her wet-from-the-womb body until she leaves your home, the clock starts ticking. It’s the clock that times your hours with her, your opportunities to influence her, to shape her character.” So if you have a daughter, here are three ways that girls generally love to spend time connecting with their dads, and ways that dads can easily influence their daughters.
1. Quality Time
It has been said that “In the mind of a child LOVE is a four letter word spelled TIME.” If you want to show your kids that you love them, spend time with them. This is especially true between fathers and daughters. Girls thrive on spending quality time with those that they love. Men, just like our wives need our quality time, so do our daughters. So if you want to speak in a language that your daughter understands, one of the easiest things you can ever do is to simply spend quality time with her. She will love you for it.
2. Good Food
Your daughter has a lot of words, and she needs you to be on the receiving end of many of them.Who doesn’t love some good food? I’ve been blessed with one daughter, and I’ve found that one of the greatest ways to connect with her is around various foods. Practically this sometimes looks like me stopping to get her a drink from Starbucks, or taking her out to eat on a date, or helping her cook up some food together in the kitchen. Whatever you decide to do, get creative and have fun.
3. Lots of Words
Girls like to talk. And they need someone trustworthy and caring that they can talk to. While this comes more natural for mothers, it is even more vital for fathers to intentionally spend time talking with and simply listening to their daughter. Because girls will talk to someone, even if it’s not us. But why wouldn’t we want it to be us? Dad, your daughter desires to know that you want to talk to her, enjoy talking with her, and are ready to listen to her, simply because you care. Your daughter has a lot of words, and she needs you to be on the receiving end of many of them.
