Tuesday's Top Ten - What Dad Needs To Take Responsibility For Teaching His Son

Top 10 Lessons Dad Should Teach His Son


This one is for the dads out there who have sons. One day those sons are going to leave home (its true you know), and there are some life skills it falls to YOU to teach your son before that day arrives. These are my top 10. Again, these are the ones YOU teach your son…not your wife…not the neighbor down the street…not his college room mate…YOU.  These are listed in no particular order.

1) Teach him how to buy his clothes. Teach him some basics…sizes in shirts; pants lengths; how to make wise clothing decisions…basics first…avoid trendy. As a coming of age thing, when he turns 12 or 13, make him start buying his own clothes. You may give him the money to do it…just don’t have mom go to the store and buy all his clothes for him anymore. If he wants new clothes, he goes to the store to buy them.

2) Teach him how to take care of his clothes. Teach him how to do his laundry. Teach him how to iron a shirt and how to iron pants. Teach him to fold his clothes and put them away. Teach him how to polish his dress shoes. See above…when he turns 12 or 13…if he wants clean clothes, he does his laundry. If he wants unwrinkled clothes, he irons them. Start preparing him when he’s 10 or 11 so he knows what to do and he’s prepared to succeed.

3) Teach him how to manage his finances. Teach him how to build a budget. Teach him how to save. Teach him how to tithe and to be generous. Does he get an allowance? As soon as the allowance starts, that’s when the lessons here begin. It’s never too early to begin teaching good financial practices to your son.

4) Teach him how to drive a car with a manual transmission. Yeah, I know…laugh away…but I wish my dad had taught me how to do this, so if any of you guys out there want to take the challenge…its called mentoring…and yes, even pastors need help in some areas. 16 is a good age in most states...or whenever you teach him to drive (yeah dad…driver’s ed is good…but this one’s your job too)

5) Teach him to have manners. Yes, sir; Thank you; No, ma’am will take him far in life. As will standing when a lady stands or approaches the table; pulling out her chair; opening her door; holding the door…and a hundred other things that are small but make a huge impact. As soon as he’s talking you can begin instilling these skills.

6) Teach him how to have an interesting conversation. How to ask questions to keep the conversation moving. Teach him to be interested and to not just sit slump shouldered over in the corner looking bored. This likely means YOU need to have a few conversations with your son that actually requires more than yes or no responses…and the earlier you begin engaging him in this way, the better.

7) Teach him to lead family worship. Teach him to love God’s church. Teach him to read the Bible and to study it. Teach him about Jesus. Pray for him and teach him to pray. When he’s ready to follow Christ, you be the one who shows him the way. If he’s a believer when he’s 12 or 13, you can begin letting him carry some of the family worship responsibilities.

8) Teach him how to treat a lady. This goes hand in hand with number 5, but there are some other things he should know about treating the girls he will date. He needs to know how to respect a girl and how to treat her the same way he would want his daughter treated should he have one once he’s married. If he has a sister, watching the way you interact with her will teach him a lot here.

9) Teach him how to throw a ball and how to swing a bat. If you can do it, coach or be involved in other ways with his little league teams. While I would never advocate making him do something he doesn’t want to do, I would also strongly encourage you to help him find a sport he can enjoy…even if he never plays it well. He probably should know how to watch a football game or a baseball game. He should know that in baseball you have an infield and an outfield and that in football you have sidelines and end zones….for starters. Other sports may come into play as well.  (this is, admittedly, written with American sports in mind)

10) Teach him how to tie a tie.

11) Yeah, I know…I can’t count…but help him find his passion…and then learn to enjoy it with him.

12) Make sure he hears you say these three statements…over and over…

- I love you.

- I’m proud of you.

- You’re good at…

So there it is...my top 10...er...12 things dad should teach his son.

What about it, dads?  What would you add to the list?  What would you change?