5 Loving Ways to Create a Strong Father-Daughter Relationship

Each parent/child relationship is special, but the father-daughter bond is significant. The term "daddy's little girl" evokes tender thoughts of a nurturing father wrapping his warm, strong arms and his full heart around his daughter to keep her safe and loved no matter what.

A father's role in a child's life is unparalleled, particularly for daughters. Studies have shown that young women who reported healthy relationships with their fathers were less likely to become clinically depressed or anxious, and overall, they reported better emotional and mental health.

Here are five ways you can create a loving relationship with your daughter, no matter what her age is, and help her emerge into a vibrant, irrepressible woman who can hold her own in today’s fast-paced world.

1. Take the Dad-Q test

Loving fathers aren't perfect; they're present. With so many families keeping such a harried pace, it's easy to lose sight of the little things that can make a big difference in your child's life. The Associated Counselors and Therapists have a free online self-assessment quiz for dads and daughters that can help busy dads take stock of their parenting.

Loving fathers aren't perfect; they're present.

Here are some examples of the types of activities dads can assess whether they do often, sometimes, or hardly ever.

• I spend 1/2 hour, 1-on-1with her, doing something we both enjoy
• I know what my daughter is concerned about today
• I tell my daughter what her strengths are

There are approximately 30 questions geared at the father-daughter relationship. The gist of the quiz isn't to belittle fathers but to help strengthen their parenting skills. A father is the first man in a girl's life that she will have a close relationship with. When he's a positive role model, he sets the standard for her future interactions with men.

Take a moment for some self-reflection. Are there any habits you need to break? The Dad-Q test will give you some ideas about where you might want to refocus your attention so you can connect with your daughter in a positive way.

2. Shower your daughter with affection

In the HuffPost's article, The Important Role of Dad, Dr. Gail Gross, (a human behavior, parenting, and education expert) explained that a child's primary relationship with their father can affect all of their relationships from birth to death, including those with friends, lovers,...

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