Dad, name three of your daughter's closest friends. If you didn't hesitate, you probably have a healthy involvement in your child's life, says Joe Kelly, author of Dads and Daughters (Broadway, 2002). But if you feel you'd like to be more involved, here are a few tips from Kelly to help nurture this bond.
• When your daughter gets upset, resist the urge to be Mr. Fix-It. Girls often vent their feelings and emotions. Your job is to listen.
• Don't treat your daughter as if she were a fragile vase. Instead, get out the badminton rackets and help her appreciate her body not for how it looks but for what it can accomplish.
• If you're a divorced parent, avoid Disneyland Dad weekends. Instead, share some quiet time together. What counts is your relationship.
• Pick up on something that mothers do well: talk to other fathers about parenting and share your experiences.
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