Developing your father-son relationship through interests and activities

Raising Boys Part 2: Developing your relationship

Communicating with your son changes across the milestones of their life from playing trains or kicking a football to helping them with their homework to driving lessons. Before you know it, they have left home to follow their dreams and become a man.

No matter what the circumstance, it is very important to keep the line of communication open with your son, so you can have a good idea of how they are traveling emotionally, mentally and who their friends are, how they are going at school, and when they need help.

Here are some tips on building your relationship through interests and activities:

1. Create one-on-one moments, use the time in the car to your benefit, driving to school, a sports event, picking up a friend, going to an event together.
2. Talk with your son about the activities they enjoy. Connect over shared interests. Good ones are sport, cooking, cars, fitness, music.
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 an activity you can teach them how to do it – or course an activity you are good at! One thing boys do enjoy is the BBQ with dad, teach them about cooking and the perfect steak.
5. Follow a sporting team together, soccer, AFL, Rugby, as an example. You can watch the game together on TV, watch highlights, discuss at the dinner table, share a few stories or send article links to each other online.
6. Dad weekends away, camping, bike riding, hiking, taking photos. Encourage them to bring another friend and their dad, these can be wonderful weekends, and will allow you to share some stories about your father and growing up as a teenager.