When Superman: The Movie came out in 1978, the tagline was, “You’ll believe a man can fly.”
Many of our favorite movies provide a sense of joy and wonder.
There’s something “magical” about entering another world, whether it is Narnia, the Star Wars universe, or Middle Earth.
Kids relate naturally to imagination and play.
Walt Disney clearly understood this, as each movie he produced opened our imagination to a new “world.”
As dads, we need to engage our children in play and stimulate their imagination.
We can read good stories to them, participate in games and hobbies, and encourage them to write, draw, and create.
To do this, we need to remember our own child-like sense of wonder.
We can get excited about playing a board game, get down on the floor and make a LEGO castle, or run outside with our lightsabers.
Here’s the thing: it is not about us.
It is not important that we win the game or prove a point.
It’s about delighting in our children, delighting in spending time with them, and delighting in their delight.
In play, we can let them get the better of us, not because we condescend, but because it’s about the fun.
So, if they are Luke Skywalker, then they can slay us with their lightsaber as we roll down the hill in feigned agony.
They will learn from our example that playing a game is about caring about the other person’s experience.
We can also teach the important lessons and values inherent in stories.
In all great stories, the hero starts with at least one flaw, and he must build character and develop virtue.
Eventually, he must face his fears.
When we read to our kids, or engage in play with them, we show them that we relate to these fears and life challenges.
We also help cultivate confidence within our children, because, as their dad, we have also successfully faced these challenges.
We want to cultivate a spirit of fun and adventure.
We teach them that life is worth living, challenges are worth confronting, and that growth and loss is part of life.
Work can be fun with the right attitude.
When we act like work is a drag, children will, too.
When we make work fun, children will be more likely to join in.
Assume the best of your child.
“I know you’re a curious child and you’re good at science.
Let’s look up interesting science fair topics!”
And then as you explore options, “Wouldn’t it be fun to go to the local hardware store and get some of those supplies?”
If you show enthusiasm, especially in tackling projects and solving problems, your children will take greater ownership of their own lives and have higher levels of motivation.
Some tasks are tedious no matter how much energy you bring to the engagement.
In those cases, it’s important to teach your children a positive reward system with delayed gratification.
“Let’s get the laundry done, put away all the clothes, clean up the toy room, and then play football outside!”
A great gift you can give your child is the gift of energy, enthusiasm, creativity, motivation, and fun.
The Father has given all these gifts to you, today is the day to give them to your children.
As you enter into your daily prayer today, ask the Father to reveal to you how he delights in the childlike fun his children, including you, partake in.
