What Daughters Need from Dads

Relating to daughters doesn't always come naturally for dads, but we can learn to connect in affirming ways. We testosterone-filled males can relate well to girls, and it doesn't require a huge adjustment in our approach. We have so much potential power to influence their self-esteem, their independence, and their healthy body image. Many experts are even finding that our masculine approach in relating is beneficial for daughters, not a hindrance.

Here are five key things that daughters need from their dads, based on research among several thousand dads:

Guidance

Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it." As a girl matures, she comes to some significant crossroads. There are important life decisions ahead, and she needs the benefits of her dad's life experiences and wisdom as she considers options and thinks through possible consequences of her choices. That's right; we are "the ancient paths" of wisdom for our daughters.

We might tend to think more about guiding our sons, and letting Mom have those important talks with our daughters. But girls need their dad's perspective as well.

First, guiding means discerning what's right in the midst of all the gray areas in our culture. Young women are under a lot of pressure to look, act, and be a certain way — to maintain a certain image. They also face expectations in regard to their future aspirations. Often, we men can bring an analytical approach to help clarify the picture and guide them along.

We can also guide through correction. Guidance really is the ultimate goal of discipline. Enforcing limits and consequences is important, but especially with daughters we need to make sure we're also communicating about why they're being corrected, and letting them know clearly that, though their behavior may be unacceptable at times, we will always love and accept them as our children.

We also guide our daughters through teaching. That doesn't mean you have permission to start lecturing your daughter. Kids rarely learn from lectures - especially when they're teenagers. Instead, focus on listening, and be actively involved in helping her learn — accompanying her and assisting her in her adventures and pursuits.

Encouragement

When it comes to our daughters' self-images, we're a huge influence — and it goes deeper than appearance. Girls feels pressure to be smart, thin, pretty, and involved in certain activities. We have the ability to make our daughters feel beautiful, inside and out.

First, we need to become comfortable affirming them verbally — giving thoughtful, clear, specific blessings that say, "You can do it," or simply, "I love you." That does include pointing out beautiful physical features, but it's so much more. Compliment character qualities like emotional strength, a sense of humor, loyalty, intelligence and courage. Most of all, make it clear that, even without those features, you'd still love her just as much.

Get involved in her pursuits. Show that she is worth investing your time and energy. Spend time just hanging out together, and be intentional about bringing fun and humor to her life.

Demonstrate confidence in her abilities. You might share something you're working on and ask her opinion, or give her a challenging assignment and express trust that she can handle it. One woman who's now an engineer told me, "Dad demonstrated that there was nothing I couldn't do because I was a girl." If your daughter knows that you think of her as a future achiever, that can change her entire outlook on the future.

Comfort

Moms are great at giving comfort, but as servant-leaders in our households, our daughters are looking to us for it as well.

2 Corinthians chapter 1 describes "the God of all comfort," who comforts us so that we can pass His comfort along to those around us. It's a great picture of how God can use His people to reach out to the hurting. As fathers, he wants us to reach out in love and gentleness and touch the hearts of our daughters.

Again, I want you to hear straight from daughters on this. Let's listen to what a few girls wrote about their dads in our essay contest (see excerpts at the end of this article). They don't use the word "comfort," but you get a clear sense that their dads are vital in helping to bring comfort to them. The ability to comfort can be a huge asset in our relationships with our daughters — especially after a disappointment or a heated confrontation.

If you have a tense relationship with your daughter, it won't be easy at first to dive in and start comforting her. Maybe dads can start by building a foundation for that comfort in other ways — like showing more physical affection on an everyday basis. Do nice things for her. Make her laugh! Really listen when she's talking. Write her short notes or e-mails where you bless her and talk about your hopes for her life. There are ways to build the kind of relationship where comforting your daughter is more natural.

Vision

Having vision for our daughters is similar to encouragement, but bigger in its scope. Vision has to do with the attitudes a dad conveys about who his daughter can become in the future. If we're negative or even uncertain about our daughters' futures, that can be devastating. For example, a dad might tell his daughter, "Don't worry about doing well in geometry; it might be over your head." Well, obviously she'll associate math with frustration—and maybe all her classes will suffer.

Or he might say, "Go easy on the sweets, Honey. You know boys don't date overweight girls." There's a good chance she will prove him right. Or, she may become obsessed with proving him wrong and take any measures to be thin. Or, going a step further, she might throw herself at the first boy that shows her some positive attention.

Our daughters' ability to achieve their potential depends in part on our resolve to appreciate them and cast a positive vision for their future.

In practical terms, we can watch and take note of a daughter's gifts and aspirations. Or just ask her, "What are your dreams?" Then be ready to listen and encourage her.

Dads can also "speak destiny" to their daughters by making positive comments that are specific to them. We don't want to place expectations on them, but cast a hopeful vision. You might say, "God has given you such a sensitive heart. I wouldn't be surprised if you end up helping a lot of people in your lifetime." It needs to be honest and from the heart. Just tell her that God has great things in store for her.

Then, I'd say pray for her future while supporting her goals and dreams. In many little ways, our daughters are asking us, "What am I good at, Dad? What do you see in me?" We need to be ready with words of hope and encouragement.

And also, we cast vision through our example. We can demonstrate real manhood for them so in the future, our daughters will seek out positive relationships with healthy, godly men, including the man they may one day choose to marry. 

Protection

We typically think of protection as defending our daughters' physical safety, but there are also emotional, moral and spiritual dangers out there. If we're fulfilling our role, our girls will have a sense of security even when we can't personally be there to protect them.

First, we need to be aware and guard against the many forces that could threaten a daughter. There are people who could try to lure her into a destructive lifestyle, or to follow a world-view that contradicts God's word. Not to mention the violence and sex on TV, the Internet, in music and movies. We have to be aware, and take appropriate action.

The second way is to be connected with her. Once again, it's so important to build the kind of relationship that encourages her to come to you with anything that's on her heart. This affects every other aspect of your relationship with your daughter. If you communicate openly, you're likely to notice warning signs sooner, and you can act on her behalf.

Third, prepare her to handle dangerous situations. We can't always be there, but teaching our daughters skills is another way of protecting them. We can talk through scenarios and help them think through appropriate responses—whether it's calling 9-1-1 or changing a flat tire. Or conversations like, "What happens when you lie to a friend?" Or, "What do you suppose a teenage boy is thinking about when your friend wears an outfit like that?" We should prepare them to handle an uncomfortable dating situation, or an adult who does something inappropriate. We need to teach them how to say "no."

And the last one is simply prayer. The thought of protecting our daughters should be humbling, because we can't always be with them, and we can't anticipate every danger. But thankfully, we have a heavenly Father who can do all things. We should seek His protection daily for our daughters.

The National Center for Fathering was founded in 1990 by Dr. Ken Canfield because every child needs a dad they can count on -- someone who loves them, knows them, guides them and helps them achieve their destiny. Visit www.fathers.com for more articles and resources to assist dads in nearly every fathering situation.

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