"8 Lessons All Dads Should Teach"

I was reading an old issue of Men's Health when I came across this article.  I really enjoyed it because it gave me some inspiration and ways to improve some of my teaching habits!  Here is a quick version of each lesson:

1.  Words are Valuable:  Father's have a greater impact on their children's language development by age 3 than mothers do.  Provide a creative, dramatic play-by-play of the activities you're engaged in and your surroundings.  Use big words, even if they're unfamiliar to your kid.  Children learn a lot by context.
2.  Tantrums earn you nothing:  When your kid starts shouting, be calm and attentive.  Don't ignore your child's tantrum.  This signals that you will not be rattled and the child won't win - ever.  It may not work for the first tantrum, but it's magic by the fifth!
3.  Competition leads to confidence:  Children as young as 4 start to compete with their parents - sprinting to the car, wrestling on the sofa, stuff like that.  Let them win a lot, then slowly ramp it up so they have to work harder for their victories.    They'll start to walk more confidently and be less of a mark for bullies
4.  Quitting is hard:  "Oh you want to quit baseball?  Sure, but you have to tell your teammates AND your coach."  Show kids the pain of quitting and they won't make those kinds of decisions lightly.  If your kid says a school project is too hard and that he wants to give up, that's OK but you have to tell your teacher that you're quitting and that you'll take whatever grade is appropriate!"
5.  Other people's feelings matter:  It's easier to connect with others if you understand their perspective, so nurture that instinct in your child.  Start with the child's own feelings.  Say, "man it must be hard being 8 years old.  What's the hardest part?"  Then mention people your kid knows who are having a hard time - say, a friend whose dad lost his job.  Ask what he thinks it's like for that friend.  They won't always have an answer but they're thinking about it!
6.  Fights can be resolved:  Unless one kid is dangling the other out the window, don't say a word.  As soon as you become involved they no longer care about a solution.  They'll only try drafting you to their side.  If they pester you, say your solution will be bad for both of them.  They'll learn that pleading is fruitless.  More important, they'll learn quickly to compromise.
7.  Independence is earned:  When your kids ask to stay later at a friend's house, as what time would work for them.  Then ask why.  If you don't hear a good answer, it's okay to say no.  If you do, try it.  When parents give children freedom and responsibility, studies show, the children develop stronger morals more quickly.
8.  Success requires focus:  Maybe you don't wish for a prodigy, but our competitive society suggests otherwise.  That's why many kids have trouble focusing.  Make sure your kids know your expectations and celebrate improvement first.  Explain the value of slow mastery.  Whether your kids love Tom Brady or Beyonce, let them know that these people succeeded because they mastered one skill.  Learn to go through one door and many others will open for you;  try to go through five doors at once ad you'll go nowhere."

-All of this was taken from the October 2009 issue of Men's Health magazine and it's a combined effort of the authors and the following contributors:  The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, Hal Edward Runkel, Justin Richardson, M.D., Anthony Wold, Ph.D., Janet Edgette, Psy.d., and C. Andrew Ramsey, M.D.  Josh Hayhurst, Elkton Karate, inc., and ATA Martial Arts did not write any of the "8 Lessons All Dads Should Teach" article.