Whether you realize it or not, you alone are the most important factor in determining what kind of man your daughter will end up marrying. It is very likely that he will choose someone like you. Or, if not a man exactly like you, one with very similar tendencies and characteristics. Scary thought, right?
You have your daughter’s best interests at heart, right? You want her Prince Charming to come from her (many, many years down the line!), dazzle her and treat her like the princess she is to her. Assuming you want that fairy tale ending for your little girl, it’s at least partly up to you to make sure she starts getting the royal treatment at a young age. Let him know that settling for less is simply unacceptable.
A great way to do this is to go out with your daughter. Set aside specific date nights (or mornings or evenings) to spend with her and her alone. Since girls generally love the little extra things that make them feel special, you might even want to give her a personalized invitation. You might decide to reveal all the details of where you plan to take her on your date. Or call it “Mystery Date,” building up the anticipation for her even more. However, if the date is a mystery, you could tell her how to dress: should she wear her fanciest dress or would she wear jeans?
The most important thing is not what you do or where you go, but that you spend some time alone with your baby (and no matter how old they are, they are still your baby).
You’re not sure where to start? Need dad-daughter date ideas? Here are some to get you started:
Ages 3-8: Your little girl is starting to crave her dad’s attention, so whatever she decides to do on these “dates” will likely make her a hero in his eyes. At this age, she will want to keep it simple. Fast food restaurants with gaming equipment (McDonalds) may be fine, but she first makes sure to set aside some time to eat and chat.
Other options:
o Swim at a local public pool, followed by pizza.
o A picnic in the park and a walk in nature or a few pushes on the swings.
o Throw your bike in the back of the truck and head to an empty parking lot – this is the perfect place to practice without those training wheels.
o Set up a tent in your own backyard and play Barbies for a couple of hours.
o Say goodbye to the rest of the family and put chocolate chip cookies and porcelain cups of Kool-Aid on your kitchen table. Invite your dolls to dinner with you.
Ages 9-13: This is the age when your daughter begins to notice boy/girl “roles” in relationships. Be sure to open doors, pull up her chair, wash away compliments, and show her the proper way to treat a lady. Money permitting, this would be the perfect time for her daughter to get her first taste of fine dining.
Other options:
o Take her to the mall and let her model some outfits for you. Then let her choose her favorite.
o Sports are not just for kids! Take your daughter to a local or professional baseball or basketball game, or any sporting event she might enjoy.
o Dust off your ball and shoes and head to the bowling alley. You may want to request bumpers if it’s been a while. This is for your benefit, as it probably wouldn’t look good if your ten year old beat you!
o Get tickets to her favorite concert (Miley Cyrus would probably be a hit!). Yes, it could be torture for you, but I’m willing to bet it would go down in history as one of her best dates ever!
14+: Now that she’s a teen, give her a chance to decide what to do on your dates. It can be dinner and a movie, a Christian rock concert, a local theater production, or just a walk to the beach once you get your learner’s permit.
Keep in mind that she may go through a period where hanging out with her dad seems so, I don’t know… “yuck.” While you don’t want to force her to continue these one-on-one dates, never stop asking. Chances are, she’ll soon come to miss her time with you and realize you’re not so “yuck” after all.
Once again, the important thing is not what you do, but that you are taking the time to get to know your daughter. And hopefully, when she chooses that special someone that day, she’ll be proud to say she’s just like you.
Some great resources:
o What a Daughter Needs From Her Dad by Michael Farris
o Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker, MD
o The Dads and Daughters Togetherness Guide: 54 Fun Activities to Help Build a Great Relationship By Joe Kelly