Kids talk to those they trust. They talk to parents who are there when needed. When they need help or need to talk, most kids go to mom. They want to be with dad and mom, and they want dad to be with the family for fun, for talking and for just spending time together. I'm not a little kid anymore.
Every kid needs to be encouraged to grow and to feel respect and responsibility.
By increasing your child's independence, you can grow the confidence to handle freedom. Help me make the right choices. Most kids want more independence, but they are afraid of making wrong decisions. Teach your kids early on how to think about a problem and how to look at both sides of the coin. Allow your kids to choose and even fail.