Bruce shares tips on staying connected with your son through shared interests

Tips on staying connected with your son

This week, Dr Bruce Robinson shares his top 5 tips for staying connected with your son through shared interests.

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1. Create one-on-one moments, use the time in the car to your benefit.
2. Talk with your son about the activities they enjoy. Connect over shared interests.
3. Tell your son a bit about your day as well. Share any funny moments. Your son will enjoy hearing that you are not perfect.
4. Find a program you both like to watch and try and share some time together watching this – sport, music, cooking or a hobby.
5. Try and spend regular time together talking. This will only make your relationship stronger, so if they hit an obstacle in life, they will be more inclined to open up and talk to you about it.

Dad dates are an important way to stay connected with your son

One of our most common and powerful tips we ever give in the Fathering Project would have to be Dad dates. It has two very important components – it is only dad and one of your children.

What is a dad date? It can be a milkshake, a kick around at the oval, a movie night, a fishing trip, older it might be a coffee or a beer at the pub.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it must be one-on-one, no one else. This is my MUST check list for any Dad Date!

• Listen, do not judge or criticise.
• Turn off your mobile phone.
• Don’t read the paper or watch the TV in the background.
• Make it an appointment in your diary – just like a business meeting.
• Persevere, it may be difficult at the start.
• Learn a skill together.