Fostering Lifelong Growth with Daddy Daughter Dates

Little girls have a special bond with their fathers, a bond that continues to reward father and daughter for a lifetime. In the interests of creating an evolving, unique connection, we’ve put together a list of fun and interesting things that Dads can do to nurture their relationship with their special girls.

  1. Build something together. Girls like making things, and so do Dads. Maybe a dollhouse, or a birdhouse, where smaller hands can do the gluing, clamping and painting. Getting into the garage and showing her how to use some of the tools are great ways to get her interested and provide that sense of satisfaction that comes with completing a task.
  1. Father/Daughter Superhero Costumes. You don’t have to wait until Halloween to get into your alternate identity, and little girls love playing dress up. You can be Couchsurfer and she can be your sidekick, Ottowoman! You can be the Howler and she can be Pipsqueak. You get the idea. If you really want to crack her up and you have no shame (and most father’s don’t, when it comes to amusing their little girls) take her grocery shopping or to the post office in your superhero costumes. When people ask you can just tell them, “yeah we are superheroes even when we are shopping”.
  1. Take her to breakfast before school. Kids will get up early if there is something fun to do before school, like going to breakfast with Dad! Having an early meal out at your favorite breakfast joint is one of those things she will remember for a long time.
  1. Pick up a new skilltogether. Maybe you always wanted to learn Spanish, or golf, why not set up some lessons or online classes that the two of you can learn together. This is advantageous in that it’s not about you teaching her something but more about you both trying something new together. Pick something that both of you are likely to stick with, and even if it’s once a week, within a year, hopefully you will be under par or conversational.
  1. Get lost in a story. If your daughter is a little older, consider picking up a classic like Through the Looking Glass or Robinson Crusoe. An ongoing adventure is something the two of you can share, like a secret place you can visit anytime.

We all want our daughters to fulfill their dreams, to move though the world with a strong sense of self, and one of the ways we can facilitate that is by simply spending time with them. For fathers, it is especially important to carve out this time, to illustrate learning, fun and adventure. Not just for them, but for the joy it provides us too.

About Susie Almaneih

Susie Almaneih spent several years during her young adulthood teaching children dance at her church group, as well as other cultural-based activities. Susie now spends as much time as she can giving back to the families in her community. Over the years, this love for community has evolved into a deeper love for delivering positive and creative content and awareness to families of all ages.

Leave a Reply