1. The Importance of Fathers
Research on Fatherhood

2. Father 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Father’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

6. Dimensions 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.

7. Early 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.

8. Emerging Research on Father’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.

9. Research on Parenting - 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Rough & Tumble Play In R&T play, a father conveys to the child:
I like to be with you. I enjoy your laughter.
I can control you, but I will let you lead and feel like a winner sometimes.
I can be both powerful and gentle at the same time.
I will not let you be hurt and I will not let you hurt others.
It’s okay to be excited, but you can calm down.

13. Dads 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

14. In a Father-Friendly Program:
Staff knowledgeable on father research
Fathers feel welcomed and valued
Fathers are actively recruited-including non-residential fathers

15. In a Father-Friendly 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.

16. In a Father-Friendly 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.

17. Fathers are more likely to 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

18. Adult 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.

19. Strong Fathers, Strong 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.

20. Strong Fathers, Strong 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)

21. Promoting Responsible Fatherhood 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.