The Importance The Importance of of

FathersFathersResearch on Fatherhood Research on Fatherhood

Father AbsenceFather Absence• Biological fathers absent in 34% of

American children’s homes.• Children without fathers are more likely to:

live in poverty use drugs engage in criminal activity have problems in school, health,

behavior experience child abuse or neglect

Father and Education..Father and Education..• Fatherless children are twice as likely

to drop out of school. • Students living in father-absent

homes are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school.

• Father involvement in schools is associated with the higher likelihood of a student getting mostly A's.

When fathers are involved:When fathers are involved:• Preterm infants have improved

cognitive development• Four-year old boys have higher

intelligence scores• School age children have better

academic achievement• Adults who grew up close to their

fathers have more education and occupational mobility.

Father’s Roles HistoricallyFather’s Roles Historically• 1600s-1800s: Head of household;

little involvement with children; breadwinner

• Early 1900s: Breadwinner; gender role model; disciplinarian

• Mid-century: Above + playmate• Recent: Above + caregiver; shares

roles with mother

Dimensions of FatherhoodDimensions of Fatherhood• Engagement and Interaction:

playing; reading • Availability and Accessibility:

physical and emotional presence increases well-being

• Day-to-Day Care: children’s social- emotional skills develop during direct care

activities (i.e. feeding, bathing); indirect care includes contact with schools, doctors, others.

Early Research on FathersEarly Research on Fathers• 1940s -1970s: Early research on

father involvement looked at father as male role model.

• Sons grew up to be more masculine when their fathers were warm and loving.

Emerging Research on Emerging Research on Father’s LoveFather’s Love

• Father are as capable as mothers at nurturing and care giving.

• Father-child bond can parallel mother- child bond in emotionality and intensity.

• Father love affects the child from infancy through at least young adulthood.

• Father love is as significant as mother love regarding positive outcomes for children.

Research on ParentingResearch on Parenting - Play - Play

• Play is the one area where fathers tend to be more involved.

• Fathers tend to be more physical, unpredictable, and vigorous in their play.

• Father-child play is associated with higher language and cognitive skills.

Fathers….Fathers….• ….are more likely to play with toys in

unconventional ways which causes children to expand thinking and problem solving skills.

• ….tend to use bigger words, ask for clarification more often, and ask children to problem-solve more often than mothers.

Play with Fathers Teaches…Play with Fathers Teaches…• How to take initiative, explore, take

chances, and overcome obstacles• Independence, self-control, how to

read facial and body cues• Self-regulation; how to control

aggression

Rough & Tumble PlayRough & Tumble PlayIn R&T play, a father conveys to the In R&T play, a father conveys to the

child: child: • I like to be with you. I enjoy your I like to be with you. I enjoy your

laughter. laughter. • I can control you, but I will let you lead I can control you, but I will let you lead

and feel like a winner sometimes. and feel like a winner sometimes. • I can be both powerful and gentle at I can be both powerful and gentle at

the same time.the same time.• I will not let you be hurt and I will not I will not let you be hurt and I will not

let you hurt others. let you hurt others. • It’s okay to be excited, but you can It’s okay to be excited, but you can

calm down. calm down.

Dads and SchoolDads and School• Talking and reading books with fathers is

associated with child’s desire to read and becoming a successful reader.

• Father involvement with school makes it more likely children will: get higher grades stay on grade level enjoy school participate in extra-curricular activities

In a Father-Friendly In a Father-Friendly Program:Program:

• Staff knowledgeable on father research

• Fathers feel welcomed and valued• Fathers are actively recruited-

including non-residential fathers

In a Father-Friendly In a Father-Friendly Program: Program:

• Mothers and fathers get equal respect and attention.

• Fathers are addressed by name, warmly greeted/ welcomed.

• There is an expectation that fathers will be involved.

• Both male and female parenting styles are respected.

In a Father-Friendly In a Father-Friendly Program: Program:

• Books, posters and other visuals that show men in a variety of work, home, and care giving roles.

• Topics and learning experiences that appeal to men are used.

• There are flexible times and places for meetings and events.

• Fathers can have conferences / meetings separately from mothers.

Fathers are more likely to Fathers are more likely to be involved when: be involved when:

• Activities relate to the child’s future and enhance efforts to be a better parent.

• Pictures of fathers displayed• Activities are in the evenings or on

weekends• Dads are specifically invited. • Kids (and moms) are involved too

Adult Learning PrincipleAdult Learning Principle• What they want to know, when they

want to know it.

Men Compared to Woman • Less tolerant of activities they do not

consider relevant.• Less likely to engage in repetitious

activities.

Strong Fathers, Strong Fathers, Strong FamiliesStrong Families

Helping Fathers Build Stronger Kids and Families

Children whose fathers spent a lot of time with them and who were sensitive to their

needs were found to be better adapted than their peers whose fathers were not as

involved and were less sensitive.

http://www.strongfathers.com/index.php

Strong Fathers, Strong Fathers, Strong FamiliesStrong Families

• Fathers should be invited as fathers (not ‘parent’ or ‘families’)

• Fathers place an importance on work (work around work hours)

• Get the word out early (a month in advance, remind them often)

Promoting Responsible Promoting Responsible Fatherhood U.S.DHHSFatherhood U.S.DHHS

Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior compared to children who have uninvolved fathers.

http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/