A generation ago, fathers were seen primarily as the bread winners, the
disciplinarians, and the guy who barbequed out back on summer weekends. But in
the past several decades, the role of the father has evolved into a much more
nurturing, tender, involved one, and while this is great news for overworked
moms, research is showing that an involved father is also crucial to the healthy
development of the child. It is, admittedly, much easier for the baby and
mother to form an early and deep bond; however, that only means that you need
to dig a little deeper and try a little harder to find special ways and moments
to show your baby that you love her and you'll always be her daddy. Today is
the perfect time to start!
Recent studies have suggested that children whose fathers are actively
involved with them from birth are more likely to be emotionally secure,
confident in exploring their surroundings, have better social connections with
peers as they grow older, are less likely to get in trouble at home and at school,
and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Children with fathers who are
nurturing, involved, and playful also turn out to have higher IQs and better
linguistic and cognitive capacities.
It turns out that men are
just as suited to parenthood as women, with the brain changes observed found to
mirror those that mothers experience.
According to a large-scale study conducted by the Australian Institute of
Family Studies, Aussie dads are spending, on average, less than 30 minutes with
their children one-on-one each day - and that includes weekends!
Toddlers need their dads... and research convincingly shows that they need them for more than 30 minutes a day!
What makes a dad so important to a toddler, and what does a dad do that a
mum doesn't do? Researchers don't suggest specific things that dads do that
mums don't. However, what they have shown is that having dad around and
involved in both positive parenting and play with
toddlers makes a massive difference in their childhood.
An active, present, and
positive father has been shown to:
- Reduce behavioral problems in boys
- Reduce psychological problems in girls
- Reduce later criminal behavior in children
- Enhance intelligence, curiosity, reasoning, and language development
- Decrease the incidence of children smoking (as teens)
- Have better friendships and social skills
- Even have better marriages (at age 33) if their relationship with Dad was good at age 16.
This is only a brief snapshot of a handful of the positive behavioral
aspects when dad is involved in parenting, rather than absent or merely a
spectator. Kids are happier and they function better when they have their dad
involved in their lives. The earlier the involvement begins, and the more
constant the involvement remains, the better the children's out comes. If you
have a toddler, or even an infant or a preschooler, now is the time to get Dad
involved as much as possible.
Here are a few ways in
which a man's brain is changed by fatherhood:
