A super-hero always rises when the world or indeed the odds are against him. He (or she) laughs in the face of adversity and keeps coming back from the lows with a single-minded focus to achieve his objective. Hence the concept of super-dads.

The world is much bigger, and at times scarier, than it once was. Dads far and wide of every nationality, race, religion and colour need to come together exactly like the Avengers to secure a brighter future for our children. Nobody can afford to go it alone, so here are 10 tips from DaddiLife to help you become a ‘super-dad’ to cope with modern day society. We believe in you.

10. BE Patient

So you have just finished a long stressful day at work. You get home from the busy traffic and you are starving and exhausted. At that point, the only human being in the world that could force you to drink a fake cup of tea from an empty plastic cup is your child. Being a super dad, is all about being able to smile and enjoy moments like that.

As a dad today, you will be tested by your children almost all the time. There are more outside influences than ever before and whilst you may feel the pressure and stress, just try and stay calm and patient. Your temperament and how you manage your stress levels are likely to be passed on to your kids in more ways than one and will also help how you bond as they grow.

9. BE Affectionate

Although science is yet to confirm but ask any dad today and they will tell you, ‘dads love cuddles’. It obviously stems from a young age and the more open and affectionate you are with your child, they will reciprocate this back to you as they get older. Make it a routine whether its when you come home from work or you wake up in the morning so they know that daddy cuddles are constant and consistent.  

There are some reading this who may be thinking but doesn't it depend on whether you have a son or daughter? The answer is NOT AT ALL. Whether you have a son or daughter, both will enjoy the fact that you tell them you love them and want to hold them when they need you or in general. It helps them feel secure, safe and assets a belief that they can turn to you anytime they need you.

8.BE Funny

Okay, so it doesn’t mean you have to be a comedian all of a sudden but being able to make your children laugh and smile should be a crucial objective in making them happy. Every child is different but showing dad has a fun and lighter side will build trust and break down more barriers in your relationship.

In general, from a personal perspective, having a sense of humour about most of what you are faced in parenthood, is a great way of staying in control and coping with stressful situations. So don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourselves and have a good laugh at the man in the mirror. Just a note, kids love impressions, funny faces and voices. Get practicing.

7. BE Willing To Learn

Fatherhood often separates the men from the boys so to speak. You are more often than not, out of your comfort zone in terms of knowledge and skills. For example, 2 years before being a dad, who would sit there and think, ‘I need to learn to do nappies today’....

To elaborate on this, nappy changing dads are a great example of how by dads who are willing to learn, are really helping to progress our society.

You learn to become adaptable in terms of skills sets and you very quickly learn, that you have to be willing to learn (pun intended). It’s all about attitude and it will help you develop as a dad faced with modern day challenges as you try to stay ahead of the game but also in your personal life and career helping you to cope better with new situations.

6. Be Fearless

Closely linked to being out of your comfort zone and learning new things but don’t be fooled, this is a different beast. As human beings we are riddled with fears and insecurities and in one perspective, that won't change.

On the other hand, our kids need their dad to be fearless. In order to evolve and grow as men, we need to be able to tackle our own fears that we may not have had a reason to do so in the past. Spiders are a great example. your children may be afraid if you are or they may not like them in general. It will undoubtedly be your job to deal with such situations whether you have a fear or not. You have more influence and power than you may realise in how you can shape the view of the world of your children.  

5. BE Involved

So you hate arts and crafts or if Peppa pig is not your thing, your children will still need their super dad to be a part of their childhood experiences. Get involved in every aspect of their life so they know that no matter what, daddy will always be there and he cares.

In a selfish kind of way, it’s also for your own benefit to fully enjoy fatherhood and build great memories for your family. As kids grow so fast, they move from one thing to another and you can blink if you miss it. That’s what makes it even more important to become involved if you want to keep the bond between you strong.  

4. BE Disciplined

As much as you would like to be ‘fun dad’ all the time, sometimes our children need their fathers to show strength in discipline. As dads, it is our responsibility to show our kids the difference between right and wrong, good and bad.

This is a grey area in terms of advice regarding how to discipline your children but the ‘punishment’ if we must call it that should reflect the behaviour it is referred to. Some dads prefer the ‘naughty step’ which helps the children associate and recognise that the behaviour is not acceptable. Other parents may prefer more traditional forms of ‘grounding’ i.e no tablet or toys, perhaps something else they love to do. It really depends on what works for you and the personality of your child.

3. BE Fit

Fitness for dads is almost not up for debate in regards to the world we live in today. We know more about health to become educated about how to live happy and healthy lives. Daddilife, created The Ultimate Guide To Dads Health to make sure that you can really take care of yourself.

Why though? Apart from your personal welfare in looking good and feeling good, health is linked to your decision making, mood and managing your stress levels. In a world, where you will be faced with constant choices and decisions to be made on behalf of your children, you need to be fit and healthy enough for your children to be able to make them. Furthermore, you want to help prolong your life so you can grow with your children and try and keep up with them for as long as possible.

2. BE Ambitious

Ambition comes in many forms and graces. It doesn’t mean you have to win gold at the olympics but trying to better yourself constantly and aim to become the best version of yourself, will help your children excel in all areas of their development. It could be your fitness or working hard in your career.

Aiming for better school grades or wanting to be part of the netball team, whatever it is, teaching our children the importance of having goals and ambitions is a crucial part of growing up. They may not even realise it if they see it as a normal part of life but will appreciate it when they see what they have learnt from their father.

1. BE Yourself

The most important tip in becoming a super-dad is to be yourself. After all, that is exactly what we teach our kids when we tell them they are unique and special. That doesn’t change when you become a man or a father.

Your children want to get to know your interests and hobbies as well, they want to know what makes you tick and love you for the wonderful person you are. Yes there are rules, guidance and improvements you want to make when it comes to your children but it shouldn’t take away the core of your personality. If you love football, make time for it and share it. If you enjoy cooking, make some time to cook together. It really doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s true to yourself.

To read more about super-dads, join the journey at daddilife.com