Over four decades of research and hundreds of studies have proven what should be obvious to everyone: fathers that are involved in their children’s life, raise responsible children, the more responsible fathers are, the more responsible their children will become. This is because a father’s influence can determine a child’s social life, grades at school, and future achievements.
The formula is clear:
Involved dads = Successful children
Here are 6 reasons why fathers should be in their children’s life growing up:
Children Value The Little Things- A study conducted by Brigham Young University found that children value their father’s involvement in their everyday activities, such as eating dinner together, watching TV, playing in the yard, and playing video games are seen as more important than big outings or trips with their Dad. Fathers and youths in the study experienced more satisfaction and cohesion in their family when fathers were involved in everyday core activities.
Playing. When Psychologist Ross Parke asked parents of 390 families how they play with their children, she found that “in infants and toddlers, fathers’ hallmark style of interaction is physical play that is characterized by arousal, excitement, and unpredictability.” Mothers, on the other hand, were “more modulated and less arousing” in their play. Other researchers also support this finding and have shown that children love when their fathers play with them as they find it more interactive and fun.
Encouraging risk. Mothers are oftentimes seen as the one who worries a lot about their children safety. On the other hand even though fathers too worry about their wellbeing, fathers are more likely to encourage their children to take risks. Another researcher, Daniel Paquette after reviewing scholarly research found that dads are more likely to encourage their children to overcome obstacles, to talk to strangers, and to go in the deep end during swim lessons.
Father Are Very Protective of Their Children- For whatever reason, fathers appear to be better at keeping predators and bad influences from harming their children. Psychologist Rob Palkovitz said in The Atlantic, “Paternal absence has been cited by multiple scholars as the single greatest risk factor in teen pregnancy for girls.” When fathers are more involved, they can better monitor what’s going on in their children’s lives, including interaction with peers and adults.
Different approaches- Both parent approach parenting differently. Clinical psychologist Brett Copeland said, “Fathers and mothers have unique and complementary roles in the home… fathers encourage competition, independence, and achievement. Mothers encourage equity, security, and collaboration.”
Father’s Are Better At Disciplining Their Children- Although mothers discipline more often, fathers discipline with a firmer hand. In their book Partnership Parenting, Drs. Kyle Pruett and Marsha Kline Pruett write, “Fathers tend to be more willing than mothers to confront their children and enforce discipline, leaving their children with the impression that they in fact have more authority.” Mothers, on the other hand, try to reason with their children and rely on kids’ emotional attachment to them to influence their behavior.
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