The Socializer Father
Striving to be social
At his best: The socializer dad enjoys people, is popular with other parents and his children's friends. He is friendly, sociable and enthusiastic about most things. He enjoys being a father and makes relationships with his and his children's friends, the family, and the community a priority. Well-organized, enthusiastic and resourceful, the socializer father often stands out as a "super dad", wholeheartedly involved in his children's activities and events, often more so than other dads. He works hard to ensure his children know how to get along with others and have the social skills to reflect his own standards.
He is involved, caring and empathetic, and capable of providing emotional support to his children and their friends. He places a high value on communication and encourages his children to express themselves freely.
Potential pitfalls: Because he enjoys coordinating and participating in events for his family, he doesn't understand it when his children don't want to join in. Socializer Dad can take this personally and will feel frustrated, annoyed, and hurt. He is not above making his children feel guilty for wanting to do their own thing and does not promote individualism. Because he believes in the importance of social status and relationships, he is embarrassed when his children don't behave with manners. He struggles to understand and accept a child who is different, especially introverted children. Instead of accepting differences in children and childlike behaviour, such as arguing and disobedience, he will demand conformity to his wishes, "flying off the handle," or use affection to control difficult situations.
Page 1 of 5 – Does your dad have an artistic streak or love to perform? Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of these types of dads on page 2.
