Importance of having a father when your a daughter.

As a baby develops a relationship with his or her mother and father, he comes to prefer them to other adults, in a process known as attachment. Psychologists agree that babies with secure attachments to their parents have better chances to develop into happy, successful, and well-adjusted children and adults.

The effects of attachment on children are broad and long-lasting. For example, one study found that primary school children scored higher on tests of empathy-the ability to see a situation from another person's viewpoint-if they had secure attachments to their fathers during infancy. These children were able to recognize how other children felt and took steps to make them feel better. Through playing with their toddlers, fathers take a special role in achieving these two goals. Children learn from them how to solve problems and how to get along with others. It really is fathers who can have a major influence on helping their children build strong social relationships during childhood and later in life.

When fathers share their plans, activities, and interests, their children are better behaved in school. When fathers emphasise how behaviour can affect other people's feelings, their school-aged daughters are regarded as very unselfish by classmates.

On almost every outcome that has been tested, including educational achievement, self-esteem, responsible social behaviour, and adjustment as adults, children do better when they live with both of their parents. Family instability and financial problems do contribute to the poor outcomes for children from broken homes. However, as one scholar who reviewed 28 studies of father absence states: 'the major disadvantage related to father absence for children is lessened parental attention'.

Every father can make a huge difference in his daughter's life.

As the primary male role model in a girl's life, fathers influence their daughters in profound ways, from how they see themselves to what they come to expect from men and the world at large. But men often don't realize the importance of their interactions or may shy away from too close involvement because of their inexperience, or conditioning. Especially as girls move into adolescence, fathers may find themselves feeling distant from their daughters or awkward with the changing dynamic. Communication becomes difficult and parenting issues more complicated. But this is also the time when daughters most need their fathers to be an even greater presence in their lives.

Father making time to spend with his daughter helps build his daughter's self esteem.

When daughters feel love and support from their father they generally have good relationships in marriage. Images of the father around the house cleaning, cooking and helping out have an impact on his daughter's perception of what men role in a family relationship is all about. As a little girl, the first love in her life is her father and how he treats her will have an effect on her relationship with men later on in her life.

In all of these, we represent to her the richness, honor, and value of being a man. When we are true to her and true to the best in our masculine heritage, she will learn to respect men and treat them as equals. She will learn to gravitate toward men who respect her and treat her as an equal, while turning away from men who threaten, violate, and abuse. That's good for both a daughter and her father. Perhaps that's what's behind the old saying: When a girl grows up, she marries her father. Her life partner is very likely to reflect her dad's characteristics.

A girl's father is the intended to be the first and most enduring male influence in her life.

From the time when he helps rock the cradle, throughout the school years, and into adulthood, the man who assumes the role of father to his daughter will loom large throughout her life. He will ultimately become the yardstick that all other men are measured by to her. Whether he is a good man or not, it will be her father that sets the standard for the other significant males with whom she develops a relationship.

It is important that a daughter know that her father accepts her.

Many young women grow up to choose one bad mate after another as they look for the acceptance that they never received from their father. Parental acceptance is vital to the mental and emotional development of children. With daughters, it is that fatherly acceptance that seems to weigh the heaviest. A growing young woman can get a great benefit from a strong male influence that gives her this sense of acceptance. If she gets this acceptance from her father, she will be better able to make wise choices regarding men.

A good father-daughter relationship helps her learn how and who to trust.

Daughters need to see how responsible caring men act. While no man is perfect, a growing girl needs to see a father who is there for her. One that cares about her and her well-being. Trust is a vital part in human relationships. Without it, marriages crumble and fail. A good father-daughter relationship is the first and best paving stone leading to a stable adult and a lasting marriage for the daughter as she matures. Although they will be mothers and not fathers, it is the father-daughter relationship that teaches a little girl how to be a good and loving parent.

There are a few other things girls should learn from their relationship with their father.

She should see her father work hard to keep the family functioning and provided for. Today, many wives share the wage earning responsibilities, but daughters should be able to see a father who is not afraid of work and is willing to work as hard and as much as necessary to see the family succeed. This will influence her to become an extremely productive member of society.

She should learn how to say "no." Life will present her with many temptations. A good father-daughter relationship will give her the training and strength to make smart choices. This relationship should also be their for the adult daughter who may face some of those frightening places in life where she will continue to need his calming influence to make it through.