As a dad, one of the most important responsibilities of parenthood is to foster a sense of connection with your children. So much of the work of parenting ensure they are looked after and protected, that all of their physical needs are met, that they receive the best education and have access to everything a child should want; that it can be easy to overlook just how important bonding on a personal level, is for your relationship and the personal emotional development of your child. This is sadly where some parents falter. And for many it is not intentional, there are so many things to take into consideration and so few hours in the day. Nevertheless it is important that we as dads try as hard as we can to succeed in this as it will only be a boon for our relationship with our children in the long run. 

Tennis

Tennis is a fast-paced non-contact sport. As a one on one/small team sport, it will give you to bond with them one on one, keeping them fit in the process. Tennis also helps with coordination, focus, and concentration. 

Rugby 

Rugby is one of those sports that you should probably pick up with your children, a bit later into their development. Many children start playing rugby from around the age of twelve, or once they hit secondary school age. This is because rugby is quite a high-impact contact sport and so there are greater risks of injury that many children below a certain age shouldn’t come in the way of. Not all schools have a rugby team or practice rugby during PE so it might be worth checking out local or regional rugby clubs in order to get them started. Rugby is also a great sports bond with over watching, and rugby fans are passionate. The excitement of the game is electric and discussing it is exhilarating. Find out the latest news about rugby in SA here.

Football

Otherwise known as the beautiful game, people around the world gather around to watch and play football and experience the joy of the sport. As a team sport, it’s a great way to teach your children the importance of cooperation and the value of being a part of a team. It is just a great way to spend time with your kids and get them involved in the world of sports and build relationships with their peers.

There are many different channels we can take in order to make this bond, bonding over a shared activity, spending time to play or read, helping them with their homework, and taking them on adventures. However, one vital component to many father/child relationships is through sport. Sport is an incredible way of building relationships with people in general. Many friendships and romantic partnerships have been built on the foundations of sport. Children are very impressionable when they are young and learn an incredible amount of information, it is important for them to pick up new activities so they have a wealth of experience to be able to be well-rounded adults. Whatever that sport maybe whatever they engage with the sport can be an incredible tool for bonding.