5 Habits That Help Make Great Dads

Imagine a small backyard garden. Nothing dramatic happens day to day—just small, simple actions. A little watering, a little pruning, a little sunlight, a little patience. Miss a day? Probably fine. Miss a whole season? The garden withers. But tend it daily, even imperfectly, and it becomes something strong, beautiful, and life-giving.


Fatherhood works the same way. It’s not big heroic moments that grow great dads—it’s the consistent, daily habits.

Episode Summary


Most men assume great fatherhood requires big moments, but the truth is the opposite. Great dads are built through small, repeated habits that water your kids’ hearts, shape their character, and build lifelong trust.

In this episode, we walk through the five habits that help you become the dad God created you to be. Key Habits Covered in This Episode

1. Presence Your kids need attention more than activities. Presence creates belonging.
Practicals include: 10-minute daily connection, phone-free zones, face-to-face conversations, asking meaningful questions, and being mentally “in the room.”

2. Modeling Integrity Kids imitate what you demonstrate. They watch you more than they listen to you.
Practicals include: keeping promises, admitting when you’re wrong, being consistent, making church a priority, and letting your kids see you pray and read Scripture.

3. Calm Response A dad’s tone sets the emotional climate of the home. Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.
Practicals include: a 3-second pause before responding, stepping away instead of blowing up, repairing quickly after conflict, watching your tone and expression, and reading Parenting with Love & Logic.

4. Encouragement A dad’s affirmation is one of the most powerful forces in a child’s life.
Practicals include: affirming effort more than outcome, offering nine encouraging words for every corrective one, celebrating small wins, and publicly praising your kids.

5. Vulnerability & Realness Let your kids know the real you—your strengths and your struggles.
Practicals include: sharing age-appropriate struggles, apologizing quickly, normalizing emotions, and letting them see you grow and wrestle with life honestly.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to show up every day in small, intentional ways. God’s grace fills the gaps as you follow Him and do your best to be the dad He’s called you to be. If this episode helped you, subscribe and share it with a friend.


Get In The Fight and be the best dad you can be.

Learn more at https://www.getinthefight.club