Fathers are their daughters’ superheroes. They can do anything to bring a smile to their daughter’s face, making father-daughter relationships unique and wholesome. The bond reflects on the daughter’s personality, which develops through the various stages of the girl’s life. A father’s influence helps shape the daughter’s upbringing and life, so it is important to protect this relationship. So, we are here to help you improve this special bond and keep it strong. Including various tips and suggestions, you can also take a test to find out how strong and special your bond is with your daughter.
6 Quick Reasons Why Father Daughter Relationship Is Important
Development a lists have focused on early father-daughter relationships as an important aspect of psychological adjustments in a later stage. An emotional attachment with their father benefits girls throughout their lives. Here are a few more reasons why the relationship with her father is crucial for a girl: The relationship is not static but changes as the girl develops from a little girl to a young woman.
Influence Of The Father In The Three Phases Of A Girl’s Life
Every father-daughter relationship goes through three different phases of life. Some are easy and fun while some are difficult but important.
First phase: Influence of a dad during childhood
First phase, also known as the hero dad-princessdaughter phase, is an easy and fun phase, where dad is the superhero and daughter is his little darling princess. Here is how a man influences his daughter at this age:
1. Mental and emotional development:
Involvement of fathers during early stages of a girls’ life helps in her mental and emotional development. Studies (1) have shown that toddlers who are securely attached to their dads are better at solving problems. They are able to manage school stress better with the presence of fathers at home. Daughters achieve academic success with father’s warmth and affection. Girls exhibit less anxiety and withdrawal behaviors if they are close to their father. Develop-mentalists have focused on early father- daughter relationships as an important aspect of psychological adjustments in later stages. Having an emotional attachment with fathers benefits them throughout their life. A large scale study (2) has shown that girls, whose fathers were absent during the first five years, are more likely to be depressed in adolescence compared to girls whose dads left them when they were aged five to ten years. If the wound is severe, then daughters can have low self esteem and trust issues.
2. Sense of security:
The men in the house are considered the source of strength and power for that family. Security is vital for girls and if she gets this protection from her dad, then it enables her to thrive in a relatively safe environment. She will be free of inhibitions and it helps to develop self-confidence.
Second phase: Influence of a father in adolescent years
This phase is also known as dorky dad-adolescent daughter phase. As a father, you will not enjoy the second phase much because your daughter will keep rolling her eyes to everything you say. This phase mostly lasts from her 11th birthday to her 21st birthday. The second phase is confusing but important as she is figuring out the world and herself. Fathers prefer to step back but this is the time to step in and help her raise her self-esteem. Teach her about men and the world she will be facing in the near future. Here is how a father guides his teenage daughter in the matters of her changing body, education and psychological traits.
3. Moral guidance:
Parents’ communication and connection will help girls in making wise decisions. Adolescents get attracted to bad influences; some start experimenting with premarital sex, and indulge in drugs and alcohol. A caring and loving father provides stability and moral guidance. He helps in guiding his girl through her troublesome teen years.
4. Body image:
A study done in Canada (3) shows that daughters, who have a good relationship with their fathers have fewer instances of body dissatisfaction, depression, and low self-esteem. They develop healthy eating habits and avoid eating disorders. Also, a girl gains confidence about her body image if her father appreciates her appearance.
5. Confidence:
Fathers’ involvement plays a vital role in daughters’ self-confidence. Fathers who are affectionate towards their little girls provide them a sense of self worth. If fathers ignore them or treat them harshly, the girls could develop low self-confidence and have self-doubt. The absence of fathers or inability to deal with conflicts with fathers leads to low self-esteem in young women.
6. Education:
A study done by the US Department of Education has concluded that fathers who are actively involved in their daughters’ academics were more likely to have straight As than girls whose fathers didn’t pay attention to them. Well-fathered daughters had better verbal skills and intellectual functioning. Absence of dads in daughters’ lives can lead to difficulties in the learning process. Daughters with absent or uninvolved dads usually perform poorly in school.
Third phase: Influence of the father in adulthood
This is the best phase, which is also known as the world’s greatest dad – adult daughter phase. In this phase both can communicate and understand each other. This is the time a father should guide his girl in her career, love and marriage.
7. Career:
Dads help their girls think logically, solve problems, become competitive and become goal-oriented. A man helps his daughter believe in herself and encourages her to follow her dreams.
8. Romantic relationship:
Daughters learn what to look for in a romantic relationship by observing their fathers’ behaviors and actions. Tests have proven that if a daughter has a healthy and loving bond with her father then it’s easier for her to find a caring, loving boyfriend or spouse in the later stage. A father sets a standard for his daughter, and she judges the men in her life based on those standards. Happy marriages are associated with warm and secure child-parent relationships. A girl tends to be anxious, insecure and aggressive if her parents have marital problems.
9. Handling stress:
There is an intriguing link between how daughters deal with stress as adults and the kind of bond they had with their fathers during their growing stage. A woman who does not have a good relationship with her father had lower morning cortisol level than normal (4). Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. Low levels of cortisol appear to make a person sensitive and overly reactive when faced with stressful situations. Girls with warm, supportive fathers have lower cortisol levels. Now you know how important it is for your daughter to have you in her life. You must be doing all the right things, but may want to work on it further to build on the relationship.
Ways To Improve Your Bond With Your Daughter
Here we help you with some tips:
When she is a little girl:
When she is a teenager or an adult:
A father is the head of the family, to whom the children look up to for support and guidance. We know how a man influences his daughter to have a better life. And an active dad goes out of his way to keep his little girl happy. But what happens when that most important person is not there in a girl’s life?
A Father’s Absence And Its Effect On Daughters
Children may not have a father for several reasons including a divorce, legal separation, incarceration, or death. A dad can also be absent in a child’s life as he is busy with work or is emotionally unavailable. The effects of the father’s absence are highly detrimental to the overall well being of girls. Fatherless daughters are deprived of affection, confidence and self worth. A father-daughter relationship is so crucial for a girl’s development that his absence cannot be filled by anyone. Therefore, it is never too late to build the bridge between you and your daughter.
Ways To Fix A Broken Father Daughter Bond
Your daughter will recognize and understand that you are making sincere efforts to get closer to her. But for some girls, this relationship can never be rebuilt. In fact, they would shred at the mention of their father. Why?
Inappropriate Relationship Between A Father And Daughter
Unfortunately, incestuous relationships happen between a father and daughter. Incest is a sexual relationship between close family relatives. This inappropriate relationship between a dad and a daughter can give the girl a lifetime of trauma. It has a huge impact on her psychological growth. It may also lead to emotional problems, borderline personality disorder or substance abuse, or other psychological symptoms. She might grow to feel worthless unless she engages in a sexual relationship with a man. The inappropriate incestuous relationship brews anger and poor self image in the girl. She develops hatred for both the parents. Instances of fathers taking advantage of their daughter’s innocence and vulnerability are not many but they are not rare too. However, such episodes should not make us lose our faith in the pious dad-daughter relationship, because for every one such instance we have innumerable examples of loving fathers who can do anything for their daughter’s happiness.
Do you belong to that clan of dads who are friends with their girls? Take this test.
Quiz: 10 questions to check how strong your father-daughter bond is.
- How will you describe your relationship with your father/ daughter?
a) We can’t stand to be in the same room. (0) b) We argue sometimes but otherwise we get along. (5) c) We are extremely close. (10)
- If you are experiencing some kind of turmoil in your life, do you explain it to your father/daughter?
a) Yes, if it will help the situation. (10) b) No, it is none of her/his business. (0) c) Only if it directly impacts her/him. (5)
- Is your time with you father/daughter happy?
a) Yes, we have fun together. (10) b) No, she/he is impossible to get along with. (0) c) It depends on the mood. (5)
- Do you ever feel disrespected by your father/daughter?
a) Sometimes I do, but I know that he/she loves me. (5) b) Not really, we respect each other a lot. (10) c) Yes, every time, I get respect from strangers but never from him/her. (0)
- Which emotion comes to you first when you think of your father/ daughter?
a) Joy (10) b) Anger (0) c) Respect (5)
- Can you name three of your daughter’s/father’s friends?
a) Yes (10) b) No (0) c) Can name 1 or 2 (5)
- I help my daughter with her extra curricular activities.
a) Always (10) b) Never (0) c) Sometimes (5)
- Your father criticizes you for something:
a) You try to win his respect back. (5) b) You try to soften him with your winning smile. (10) c) You pretend not to hear. (0)
- What happens when your new partner meets your dad?
a) You watch your father and exchange knowing glances. (10) b) You watch your father closely to see if he approves of him or not. (5) c) You do not expect much from your father. (0)
- How often do you argue with your father?
a) You argue quite regularly but it never amounts to anything major. (5) b) You rarely argue at all. (10) c) You don’t really speak that often to argue. (0)
Best friends (score: above 60) You and your daughter are like two peas in a pod. You are the person your daughter will turn to when things get difficult. You both share similar interests and like to spend time together. There might be a time when you do not agree with her but that only strengthens the bond. You respect each other and you will depend on each other for love and support You get along (score: 35-55) You both don’t share the best of relationship but you get along with each other. There is respect but you prefer not to share much. Helping hand will always be available if need be. You both prefer to maintain a safe distance and have need-based communication. There is still scope to improve your relationship. Spending time together doing activities you both like and communicating often will help you build a better bonding. Distant relationship (score: below 30) You both do not want to be in the same room for long. She doesn’t expect you to understand her or help her out in difficult situations and vice versa. You both crave for affection and understanding from each other.
Beautiful Quotes On Father Daughter Relationships
To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter. -Euripides No one in this world can love a girl more than her father. –Michael Ratnadeepak Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. -Joseph Addison No one is able to make the female a queen except her father. -Arab proverb It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping. -John Sinor A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. -Enid Bagnold I am a princess not because I have a prince, but because my father is a king. -Anonymous The reason why daughters love their dad the most is…that there is at least one man in the world who will never hurt her. -Anonymous A girl’s first true love is her father. -Marisol Santiago When my father didn’t have my hand…he had my back. -Linda Poindexter
Poems
Family circle When I am born, you are here In your eye, I see a tear Times flies and already I’m two “Look daddy, I can tie my shoe!” Before you know it, I’m five Everyday, you thank god I’m alive Pretty soon, I turn eight You tell me I’m never allowed to date I’m already twelve in my preteen years Which means yo’ll help me with all my new fears Now fourteen with my permit to drive Waiting to hit the big one-five Too early comes sixteen, with my license now It went by too fast, you just ask how You want to meet my boyfriend when I’m eighteen I pray to god that you’re not too mean The same guy two years later asks for my hand I’m relieved when you say, that’s just grand About a year later, you walk me down the aisle Through all the tears, you bare a smile Three years later, you’re gonna be a grandfather You show love and pride for your new granddaughter Another year down the road Mom dies, oh the many tears that flowed You’re not doing so well without her Less than a year later, you forgot all about her Alzheimer’s sets in and it scares me so Not long after, you decide to go Now I’m regretting not saying goodbye Every time I think about it, I start to cry The cycle has begun again It has started over with little Megan The other day, she turned two And said, “Look, daddy, I can tie my shoe!” – by Melissa G. Nicks Dad He never looks for praises He’s never one to boast He just goes on quietly working For those he loves the most His dreams are seldom spoken His wants are very few And most of the time his worries Will go unspoken too He’s there…a firm foundation Through all our storms of life A sturdy hand to hold to In times of stress and strife A true friend we can turn to When times are good or bad One of our greatest blessings, The man that we call Dad. – Karen K. Boyer How was your experience seeing your daughter grow? If you are woman, what has been your relationship with your father? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below.
References:
title: “Father Daughter Relationship Why It Is Important How It Evolves” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-31” author: “Nicole Fudge”
Fathers are their daughters’ superheroes. They can do anything to bring a smile to their daughter’s face, making father-daughter relationships unique and wholesome. The bond reflects on the daughter’s personality, which develops through the various stages of the girl’s life. A father’s influence helps shape the daughter’s upbringing and life, so it is important to protect this relationship. So, we are here to help you improve this special bond and keep it strong. Including various tips and suggestions, you can also take a test to find out how strong and special your bond is with your daughter.
6 Quick Reasons Why Father Daughter Relationship Is Important
Development a lists have focused on early father-daughter relationships as an important aspect of psychological adjustments in a later stage. An emotional attachment with their father benefits girls throughout their lives. Here are a few more reasons why the relationship with her father is crucial for a girl: The relationship is not static but changes as the girl develops from a little girl to a young woman.
Influence Of The Father In The Three Phases Of A Girl’s Life
Every father-daughter relationship goes through three different phases of life. Some are easy and fun while some are difficult but important.
First phase: Influence of a dad during childhood
First phase, also known as the hero dad-princessdaughter phase, is an easy and fun phase, where dad is the superhero and daughter is his little darling princess. Here is how a man influences his daughter at this age:
1. Mental and emotional development:
Involvement of fathers during early stages of a girls’ life helps in her mental and emotional development. Studies (1) have shown that toddlers who are securely attached to their dads are better at solving problems. They are able to manage school stress better with the presence of fathers at home. Daughters achieve academic success with father’s warmth and affection. Girls exhibit less anxiety and withdrawal behaviors if they are close to their father. Develop-mentalists have focused on early father- daughter relationships as an important aspect of psychological adjustments in later stages. Having an emotional attachment with fathers benefits them throughout their life. A large scale study (2) has shown that girls, whose fathers were absent during the first five years, are more likely to be depressed in adolescence compared to girls whose dads left them when they were aged five to ten years. If the wound is severe, then daughters can have low self esteem and trust issues.
2. Sense of security:
The men in the house are considered the source of strength and power for that family. Security is vital for girls and if she gets this protection from her dad, then it enables her to thrive in a relatively safe environment. She will be free of inhibitions and it helps to develop self-confidence.
Second phase: Influence of a father in adolescent years
This phase is also known as dorky dad-adolescent daughter phase. As a father, you will not enjoy the second phase much because your daughter will keep rolling her eyes to everything you say. This phase mostly lasts from her 11th birthday to her 21st birthday. The second phase is confusing but important as she is figuring out the world and herself. Fathers prefer to step back but this is the time to step in and help her raise her self-esteem. Teach her about men and the world she will be facing in the near future. Here is how a father guides his teenage daughter in the matters of her changing body, education and psychological traits.
3. Moral guidance:
Parents’ communication and connection will help girls in making wise decisions. Adolescents get attracted to bad influences; some start experimenting with premarital sex, and indulge in drugs and alcohol. A caring and loving father provides stability and moral guidance. He helps in guiding his girl through her troublesome teen years.
4. Body image:
A study done in Canada (3) shows that daughters, who have a good relationship with their fathers have fewer instances of body dissatisfaction, depression, and low self-esteem. They develop healthy eating habits and avoid eating disorders. Also, a girl gains confidence about her body image if her father appreciates her appearance.
5. Confidence:
Fathers’ involvement plays a vital role in daughters’ self-confidence. Fathers who are affectionate towards their little girls provide them a sense of self worth. If fathers ignore them or treat them harshly, the girls could develop low self-confidence and have self-doubt. The absence of fathers or inability to deal with conflicts with fathers leads to low self-esteem in young women.
6. Education:
A study done by the US Department of Education has concluded that fathers who are actively involved in their daughters’ academics were more likely to have straight As than girls whose fathers didn’t pay attention to them. Well-fathered daughters had better verbal skills and intellectual functioning. Absence of dads in daughters’ lives can lead to difficulties in the learning process. Daughters with absent or uninvolved dads usually perform poorly in school.
Third phase: Influence of the father in adulthood
This is the best phase, which is also known as the world’s greatest dad – adult daughter phase. In this phase both can communicate and understand each other. This is the time a father should guide his girl in her career, love and marriage.
7. Career:
Dads help their girls think logically, solve problems, become competitive and become goal-oriented. A man helps his daughter believe in herself and encourages her to follow her dreams.
8. Romantic relationship:
Daughters learn what to look for in a romantic relationship by observing their fathers’ behaviors and actions. Tests have proven that if a daughter has a healthy and loving bond with her father then it’s easier for her to find a caring, loving boyfriend or spouse in the later stage. A father sets a standard for his daughter, and she judges the men in her life based on those standards. Happy marriages are associated with warm and secure child-parent relationships. A girl tends to be anxious, insecure and aggressive if her parents have marital problems.
9. Handling stress:
There is an intriguing link between how daughters deal with stress as adults and the kind of bond they had with their fathers during their growing stage. A woman who does not have a good relationship with her father had lower morning cortisol level than normal (4). Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. Low levels of cortisol appear to make a person sensitive and overly reactive when faced with stressful situations. Girls with warm, supportive fathers have lower cortisol levels. Now you know how important it is for your daughter to have you in her life. You must be doing all the right things, but may want to work on it further to build on the relationship.
Ways To Improve Your Bond With Your Daughter
Here we help you with some tips:
When she is a little girl:
When she is a teenager or an adult:
A father is the head of the family, to whom the children look up to for support and guidance. We know how a man influences his daughter to have a better life. And an active dad goes out of his way to keep his little girl happy. But what happens when that most important person is not there in a girl’s life?
A Father’s Absence And Its Effect On Daughters
Children may not have a father for several reasons including a divorce, legal separation, incarceration, or death. A dad can also be absent in a child’s life as he is busy with work or is emotionally unavailable. The effects of the father’s absence are highly detrimental to the overall well being of girls. Fatherless daughters are deprived of affection, confidence and self worth. A father-daughter relationship is so crucial for a girl’s development that his absence cannot be filled by anyone. Therefore, it is never too late to build the bridge between you and your daughter.
Ways To Fix A Broken Father Daughter Bond
Your daughter will recognize and understand that you are making sincere efforts to get closer to her. But for some girls, this relationship can never be rebuilt. In fact, they would shred at the mention of their father. Why?
Inappropriate Relationship Between A Father And Daughter
Unfortunately, incestuous relationships happen between a father and daughter. Incest is a sexual relationship between close family relatives. This inappropriate relationship between a dad and a daughter can give the girl a lifetime of trauma. It has a huge impact on her psychological growth. It may also lead to emotional problems, borderline personality disorder or substance abuse, or other psychological symptoms. She might grow to feel worthless unless she engages in a sexual relationship with a man. The inappropriate incestuous relationship brews anger and poor self image in the girl. She develops hatred for both the parents. Instances of fathers taking advantage of their daughter’s innocence and vulnerability are not many but they are not rare too. However, such episodes should not make us lose our faith in the pious dad-daughter relationship, because for every one such instance we have innumerable examples of loving fathers who can do anything for their daughter’s happiness.
Do you belong to that clan of dads who are friends with their girls? Take this test.
Quiz: 10 questions to check how strong your father-daughter bond is.
- How will you describe your relationship with your father/ daughter?
a) We can’t stand to be in the same room. (0) b) We argue sometimes but otherwise we get along. (5) c) We are extremely close. (10)
- If you are experiencing some kind of turmoil in your life, do you explain it to your father/daughter?
a) Yes, if it will help the situation. (10) b) No, it is none of her/his business. (0) c) Only if it directly impacts her/him. (5)
- Is your time with you father/daughter happy?
a) Yes, we have fun together. (10) b) No, she/he is impossible to get along with. (0) c) It depends on the mood. (5)
- Do you ever feel disrespected by your father/daughter?
a) Sometimes I do, but I know that he/she loves me. (5) b) Not really, we respect each other a lot. (10) c) Yes, every time, I get respect from strangers but never from him/her. (0)
- Which emotion comes to you first when you think of your father/ daughter?
a) Joy (10) b) Anger (0) c) Respect (5)
- Can you name three of your daughter’s/father’s friends?
a) Yes (10) b) No (0) c) Can name 1 or 2 (5)
- I help my daughter with her extra curricular activities.
a) Always (10) b) Never (0) c) Sometimes (5)
- Your father criticizes you for something:
a) You try to win his respect back. (5) b) You try to soften him with your winning smile. (10) c) You pretend not to hear. (0)
- What happens when your new partner meets your dad?
a) You watch your father and exchange knowing glances. (10) b) You watch your father closely to see if he approves of him or not. (5) c) You do not expect much from your father. (0)
- How often do you argue with your father?
a) You argue quite regularly but it never amounts to anything major. (5) b) You rarely argue at all. (10) c) You don’t really speak that often to argue. (0)
Best friends (score: above 60) You and your daughter are like two peas in a pod. You are the person your daughter will turn to when things get difficult. You both share similar interests and like to spend time together. There might be a time when you do not agree with her but that only strengthens the bond. You respect each other and you will depend on each other for love and support You get along (score: 35-55) You both don’t share the best of relationship but you get along with each other. There is respect but you prefer not to share much. Helping hand will always be available if need be. You both prefer to maintain a safe distance and have need-based communication. There is still scope to improve your relationship. Spending time together doing activities you both like and communicating often will help you build a better bonding. Distant relationship (score: below 30) You both do not want to be in the same room for long. She doesn’t expect you to understand her or help her out in difficult situations and vice versa. You both crave for affection and understanding from each other.
Beautiful Quotes On Father Daughter Relationships
To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter. -Euripides No one in this world can love a girl more than her father. –Michael Ratnadeepak Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. -Joseph Addison No one is able to make the female a queen except her father. -Arab proverb It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping. -John Sinor A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. -Enid Bagnold I am a princess not because I have a prince, but because my father is a king. -Anonymous The reason why daughters love their dad the most is…that there is at least one man in the world who will never hurt her. -Anonymous A girl’s first true love is her father. -Marisol Santiago When my father didn’t have my hand…he had my back. -Linda Poindexter
Poems
Family circle When I am born, you are here In your eye, I see a tear Times flies and already I’m two “Look daddy, I can tie my shoe!” Before you know it, I’m five Everyday, you thank god I’m alive Pretty soon, I turn eight You tell me I’m never allowed to date I’m already twelve in my preteen years Which means yo’ll help me with all my new fears Now fourteen with my permit to drive Waiting to hit the big one-five Too early comes sixteen, with my license now It went by too fast, you just ask how You want to meet my boyfriend when I’m eighteen I pray to god that you’re not too mean The same guy two years later asks for my hand I’m relieved when you say, that’s just grand About a year later, you walk me down the aisle Through all the tears, you bare a smile Three years later, you’re gonna be a grandfather You show love and pride for your new granddaughter Another year down the road Mom dies, oh the many tears that flowed You’re not doing so well without her Less than a year later, you forgot all about her Alzheimer’s sets in and it scares me so Not long after, you decide to go Now I’m regretting not saying goodbye Every time I think about it, I start to cry The cycle has begun again It has started over with little Megan The other day, she turned two And said, “Look, daddy, I can tie my shoe!” – by Melissa G. Nicks Dad He never looks for praises He’s never one to boast He just goes on quietly working For those he loves the most His dreams are seldom spoken His wants are very few And most of the time his worries Will go unspoken too He’s there…a firm foundation Through all our storms of life A sturdy hand to hold to In times of stress and strife A true friend we can turn to When times are good or bad One of our greatest blessings, The man that we call Dad. – Karen K. Boyer How was your experience seeing your daughter grow? If you are woman, what has been your relationship with your father? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below.
