Top 5 Traits of A Successful Dad

Many things make dads successful…

Becoming a parent is easy — becoming a great one is the real challenge. Being a great or successful parent takes discipline, hard work, tough conversations, and love.

Below are my top 5 things that embody a successful dad and parent:

1) Work Hard

It doesn’t matter if you stay at home or go to work. Your work ethic shines through your daily actions. Cleaning, earning, setting up routines—these are things that require discipline and thought. Going to work and being on time requires dedication to your job and employer or clients. Staying at home, prepping meals, cleaning up arts and crafts, and staying present and in the moment is a hard job in and of itself.

Each morning, I wake up around 6 a.m. I get ready, get my oldest off to school, and take the kids to the babysitter. I go to work, where I do marketing and sales. I round the kids back up from their spots, and I’ll work on dinner, freelance, work on websites, make dinner, or do chores. Working hard doesn’t have to be backbreaking work but requires focus and dedication.

2) Being Present

This goes right along with number 1. Being present is difficult, especially when other things grab our attention or we need time to focus on tasks. This is one that I struggle with. I feel like my head is all over the place some days, and I don’t get time to “exist”. This could be watching a movie, scrolling through some reels for either inspiration or enjoyment, or just zoning out on the porch watching the world go by.  Some days after work, after shuttling kids, after dinner, I want to zone out and get my thoughts to clear my head, but I still need to be active, present, and engaging with my kids.

3) Exercise

Getting daily exercise is difficult. Luckily, I can walk on my lunch, so on non-gym days, I still get some low-impact movement and fresh air. It doesn’t matter if it’s -6F or 92F—as long as it’s not raining, I’ll get about 2.5 miles in. This level of fitness keeps me on my toes, and I’m able to do things with my kids, like run and chase, without getting tired and worn out.

4) Read/Learn

Giving kids the chance to pick up a book is very important—not just in my beliefs but also for their development. We go to museums, events, or attractions to give them tangible, real-world experiences that will last a lifetime. At night, part of our routine is to read to them: brush teeth, get jammies on, read a book. This enforces the idea that books are an essential part of life, and we can learn letters and words from others’ experiences.

We’ve been reading some Dr. Seuss lately, and my oldest, although he can’t read, can recite the beginning of Green Eggs and Ham through the first few pages. He has an excellent memory for literature and music. It might be repetitive, but hearing it in his voice? That’s what I love the most.

5) Play/Laugh

Life is always so serious. The news is always depressing. Bills are always stressful. Playing, laughing, and being in the moment are crucial to the dad (parent)/kid bond and stress relief. Our day is packed with stress and worry — playing and having fun should help relieve that. Color with chalk, play a game, or sit outside at a park. We can do these things to help give our kids the best life possible through organic play.

These top 5 habits of a Successful Dad are required to give your kids the best life. When we work hard, are present, exercise with them, teach them, and play with them, we can provide the best childhood to develop them from kids to functioning adults and citizens.

You are responsible for fostering a loving and productive environment for your kids.

What that looks like for them is a fulfilled life where they can engage with and learn from us and others and feel safe, seen, and free to explore the world around them. That is what you should strive to foster for your children.

Comment below in ways that you embody these five traits.

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