How to Be a Cool Dad

Running a family is hard work -- holding down a job, paying bills, taking care of household needs, preparing meals and chauffeuring children to their various activities can be energy-sapping. Although you already know your kids love you, you can boost your cool factor by getting to know more about their genuine interests. The coolest dads are self-confident, though, so don̵7;t get overly caught up in establishing your hipster credentials. Be confident, have fun and know that fatherly coolness will follow.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make time for your kids. There̵7;s nothing less cooler than always being too busy for your children. When your children want to share a funny story, set your smartphone aside and actively listen. They̵7;ll be thrilled if you genuinely laugh. If you see the kids practicing headstands or cartwheels in the backyard, turn the TV off and go try a few gymnastics moves yourself. When you spontaneously participate in their lives on their terms, rather than dictating formal activities, you get to be the cool dad.

    • 2

      Take turns making choices with your kids. Let them pick a movie, however silly or mind-numbingly angsty, and watch it with them. Be interested in watching the YouTube clips they find online or listening to their favorite playlist in the car. Then share your preferences, too. Regardless of how they feel about your music or favorite movies, you̵7;ll gain credibility and coolness by demonstrating that you respect their sense of style and artistic choices and have some of your own.

    • 3

      Embrace your uncoolness. It sends a powerful message to your kids about self-confidence, self-acceptance and the real meaning of ̶0;cool̶1; when they see that you can laugh at your idiosyncrasies. If you can̵7;t stay up past 10 p.m. on New Year̵7;s Eve or have been known to wear tropical-print board shorts to the beach, make a joke about being a dork so that your kids learn not to be embarrassed for being themselves.

    • 4

      Communicate with your partner about sharing cool activities. If your partner is usually the parent to take the kids to the water park in the summer, ask if you can share these tasks. Both parents can share taking your children on hikes, stopping for ice cream, checking out a car show, or granting permission for play dates and slumber parties so that kids associate fun, spontaneity and coolness with dad, too.

    • 5

      Live your life. Constantly trying to impress your kids can be counterproductive. Don̵7;t try too hard; instead, maintain positive relationships with your friends and your partner. When your kids see you playing the guitar, learning how to surf, grilling fresh-caught fish or goofing around in the pool, they see that you enjoy your life and have interests outside their own. Although you always want to emphasize that they are your priority, letting them see other aspects of your personality will reinforce that you̵7;re an individual with some pretty cool experiences under your belt.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Establish a Curfew With Your Child
      When she was little, your child wanted nothing more than to be near you, but as she nears adolescence, she may want more independence. Establishing a curfew can get her in the habit of following house rules and getting home on time when shes a teen a
    • Should I be concerned that my 2-year-old doesnt say many words and is hard to understand?
      If youre able to understand only a few or none of your 2-year-olds words, talk to your childs doctor about scheduling an evaluation. Speech delay can be an early sign of other developmental issues. Although every child grows and develops at his or h
    • How to Make My Child Brilliant
      Weve seen the videos and read the stories of child prodigies -- children who stand out intellectually or who are brilliant in a particular area. Most people may want a brilliant child, but few are willing to put in the time and effort. Helping your c