Young infants develop a strong attachment towards the mom. At this age, they are completely dependent upon her for their needs, such as being fed or being put to bed. It is only when they start growing older that children start accepting the dad as a parent. Little boys, as they become aware of their common gender, begin to look upon the dad as a role model. However, equally deep bonds are also shared by fathers and daughters.
Here are some of the factors responsible for father and daughter bonding:
- First man in their life: The father is usually the first man in a little girl’s life. Girls usually develop their idea of ‘maleness’ from their fathers, and this influences the way they will view other men in their lives. Fathers, thus, lay the groundwork for the type of relationship that their daughters will share with men later in their life.
- Self-evaluation: Young girls usually depend on their mothers to help them form their definition of ‘womanhood’. However, a loving father is important to help a young girl develop self-esteem. The affection of the father for his daughter defines how she will evaluate herself as a woman.
- Security: Fathers provide daughters with a sense of security. A warm and trusting relationship shared by a father and daughter makes a girl feel ‘wanted,’ and reassures her that she will always be protected from harm.