One thing I hear a lot is fathers of daughters refusing to roughhouse with their little girls — or mothers not enjoying the fact that their daughter is wrestling with dad — because, they’re, well, girls, and he’s a man. Roughhousing is commonly thought to be a boy thing. It isn’t. As it turns out, the benefits of rough-and-tumble play are not gendered. They are, however, very real.
When Girls Grapple
First of all, when a girl is wrasslin’ her pops, she’s getting a physical workout. Or she should be, at least. (If she isn’t huffing and puffing between the giggles, then you actually might want to step it up a bit.) She’s also learning a lot of what her body can do — developing coordination and balance. But the benefits aren’t just physical. By roughhousing with dad, your girl has to think creatively about how she’s going to come at you. This is literally building her brain. She also has to keep an eye on you. She has to look at your face and read your expression, which boosts her emotional intelligence. There’s a benefit for dads, too. As you wrestle around with your daughter in close proximity, both combatants are flooded with a hormone called oxytocin. This is the hormone that promotes bonding and emotional closeness. That’s only a good thing for your father-daughter relationship.
A Note on Safety
Ready to rumble? Great. Just remember: As far as safety is concerned, it’s important that dads pay close attention to their daughter’s neck and head. They’re a bit heavy and out of proportion, which can lead to some nasty injuries. You can help mitigate this by getting her enrolled in a martial arts class where she can learn how to fall in a way that’s less damaging. Also, try not to swing her around by her limbs. Those little joints are still developing, and things can get out of whack pretty easily. You may want to suggest that your wife get into the fray. Start by telling her all the good things your daughter is getting out of wrestling. Then add in the fact that it gets better with mom in the game. A new living room floor adversary only presents new challenges.
7 Benefits of Roughhousing
In my research on roughhousing, I’ve heard a number of repeated themes from experts about its benefit. Here are seven very good reasons to roughhouse.
