They respond differently to their fathers' approach and touch, and the dads take the bait. What makes fathering different from mothering has important and positive effects on kids over the course of their lives. Think for a moment about what mothers and fathers do differently about limit setting, being affectionate, teaching, playing with kids, or when they are upset or disappointed with them. But remember what men and women have in common in their behavior with children greatly outnumber the differences. A few distinguishing characteristics, however, do seem to matter in positive ways to your kids.
Fathers tend to play with children more physically and less predictably than mothers.
You enjoy doing the unexpected, stimulating, sometimes teasing, things to activate your kids as you play. Kids do seem to enjoy this, although they may not always know when enough is enough. Dads will hang back a little further and a little longer when kids are exploring something they might not have encountered before or yet mastered. Kids recognize this as a longer tether with dad than with mom. That can be a mixed blessing, but dads tend to offer support or help a little more slowly than moms.