Fathers and Children: Secrets for an Unbreakable Bond

June is the month of Father’s Day, making it the perfect time to celebrate the importance of the father figure in a child’s life. Fathers, just like mothers, play a fundamental role in the growth of children, helping them assert themselves and grow into confident and strong adults.

Even Dads Feel Emotions

Fathers are often seen as indestructible heroes — tough, strong, almost without feelings. But in reality, they experience exactly the same emotions as mothers and children: they are human beings too, with hearts that beat faster at every new discovery their children make, or eyes that well up with tears in sad moments.

They feel fear, when they worry they are not good enough, capable of facing the challenges of parenthood, or living up to their role. They feel happiness, when they see their children smile for the first time or when they proudly watch them overcome a challenge. They feel sadness, when they are powerless in the face of their children’s tears or frustrated because they cannot find a solution to a problem. And above all, they feel love — that unconditional love fathers feel for their children, a powerful and transformative force that drives them to do anything for their children’s well-being and happiness.

And perhaps the greatest gift we can give fathers is to let them express these emotions freely, without judgment, offering them the support they need, and spaces and resources to process them in a healthy and constructive way. Recognizing and celebrating the emotions of fathers, giving them the freedom to express them even in front of their children, makes the bond between father and child even stronger. Most importantly, it teaches children that emotions — both negative and positive — are universal and should be welcomed, understood, and accepted.

Sharing Time: A Precious Gift

One of the most precious aspects of the father–child relationship is sharing time. In our fast-paced lives, setting aside moments for those we love is one of the most invaluable gifts we can give, and a way to show children: “You are important to me.”

This can be done through a walk in the woods, an afternoon at the playground, or simply by reading a book together, perhaps before bedtime. Reading, in fact, supports children’s cognitive, relational-linguistic, and emotional development, but above all, it offers fathers and children the opportunity to create a close, unbreakable, and lasting bond.

Reading is an act of love — a special moment in which children can dive into fantastic worlds and daydream, guided by a loving parent who helps them navigate words, images, and meanings. Reading together means, above all, spending exclusive time together, shutting out the rest of the world to share feelings and emotions in an intimate and safe way.

Our Books About Dads for Children

To celebrate these important figures, here are some stories about dads for children, perfect for reading together:

• Even Dads Cry: as we said, all dads have hearts full of emotions. This sweetly illustrated book normalizes adult emotions and invites both children and adults to fully embrace their feelings. Because even a roaring lion or a sharp-toothed shark sometimes sheds a tear.

• Daddy Geppetto: Geppetto represents all those who hold in their hearts the special dream of becoming a father. This children’s book about dads, inspired by the classic tale of Pinocchio, is a dedication to all of them — and to all the fathers who have already fulfilled this dream.

• Dads and Cubs: this sound book is dedicated to various species of dads and their little ones, because even in nature, dads love their babies wholeheartedly. Through simple, sweet illustrations and delightful sounds, children will discover that a father’s love is one of nature’s wonders.

• A Father's Heart: this story is a profound hymn to the love that binds dads to their children, strong enough to overcome any adversity and any storm. The mutual feelings cherished in their hearts unite them — beyond distance, beyond time.

Happy Father’s Day to all those who give love, protection, and wisdom. To those who already are dads, to those who dream of becoming one, and to those who are fathers at heart.

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