HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! The profound impact of Dads in a child's life - RePost

There is probably no other factor which will determine a child's success as having a father in their life.  From the first days of life a father molds, directs, mentors and guides a child's life.  In fact - a father is the first male relationship that a child will have.  A fatherless child is MUCH more likely to wind up in poverty and/or in prison.  Via CouplesTherapyinc.

How Dads Shape Their Children’s Lives
1. Fathers uniquely enhance children’s development from birth. Did you know a father’s involvement has measurable positive impacts even in infancy? When dads regularly engage in caretaking activities like bathing, feeding and playing with their babies, it boosts the child’s confidence and fosters stronger relationships later in life.¹ Additionally, these hands-on dads tend to handle marital conflict more skillfully, creating a more stable family environment.²
2. Supportive fathers curb risky teen behavior. Quality father-child relationships are a powerful deterrent to dangerous conduct in the teen years. Boys with absent fathers are twice as likely to become teen dads themselves.⁵ In contrast, a Temple University study found that none of the boys born to teen moms became teen fathers themselves if they had a close bond with their own dad.⁶

Kids with involved dads perform better in school.

3. Children with actively engaged fathers receive a major academic advantage. They are nearly 40% more likely to earn high grades, 45% less likely to repeat a grade, and 60% less likely to be suspended or expelled compared to kids without involved dads.³ The more time dads spend with their children, the greater the child’s empathy and emotional control.⁴
4. Dads promote healthier relationships and marriages for their kids. Your relationship with your father influences your own romantic bonds as an adult. Research shows that children with engaged dads have more positive, flexible attitudes toward others and greater skills in emotional self-control.[7] This translates to happier, more committed marriages when they grow up.⁸
5. Fathers’ engagement has tripled in recent generations. Modern dads are far more involved than fathers 50 years ago. Today, fathers spend triple the number of hours per week on childcare compared to dads in 1965. They’ve also more than doubled their time spent on household chores.[9] Despite this progress, many people still underestimate fathers’ capabilities, with 53% of survey respondents saying moms are better at caring for babies.¹⁰
6. Dads rate parenting as central to their identity. Fatherhood isn’t just a peripheral role for men – it’s a core part of who they are. In a 2015 study, 57% of fathers described being a parent as central to their identity, similar to 58% of mothers.¹1 Over half of moms and dads said they always find parenting rewarding.¹²

The Evolution of Fatherhood
7. Many dads worry they don’t spend enough time with their kids. Fathers recognize the importance of quality time with their kids but often fall short. 63% of dads say they spend too little time with their children, compared to 35% of moms.¹³ Dads also tend to be harsher critics of their own parenting skills, with only 39% believing they’re doing a very good job raising their kids vs 51% of moms.¹⁴
8. An involved father is the best predictor of empathy in adulthood. A 26-year longitudinal study found that the #1 factor in developing empathy in adults had a father who participated in their hobbies, activities, and school life. Mothers’ involvement was important, too, but not as strong an indicator as fathers’.[15] This research suggests dads play a unique role in modeling compassion and understanding for others.

9. Father engagement reduces kids’ behavioral problems. When fathers participate in their children’s activities and schoolwork, kids exhibit fewer disruptive behaviors like lying, fighting, bullying and hyperactivity. This holds true even in non-traditional family structures.¹⁶ Conversely, when the father is absent, children are more likely to act out in negative attention-seeking ways.¹⁷
10. Dads’ mental health has a significant impact on their children. It’s not just a mother’s well-being that matters – fathers’ mental health has a significant effect on kids too, even from a very young age. Infants of fathers struggling with depression have been shown to exhibit more frustration and unpredictable behavior.[18] As children grow, dads’ untreated mental health issues can contribute to greater emotional and behavioral problems in kids.

Read the rest of the story here.

 

Fathers are Important: Learn about the importance of fatherhood through this book of inspiring examples, and discover what spouses, children , and society as a whole can do to better support fathers. Paperback – November 9, 2021

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know Paperback – September 5, 2017