healthykids
How to be the Father Kids Need by Armin Brott
DAD MATTERS A
merican fatherhood has evolved considerably in the last 50 years. While dads used to be kept out
of the delivery room, today, more than 90 percent of new fathers are present for their children’s birth, reflected in MenCare Advocacy’s State of the Worlds’ Fathers. However, being there early on does not necessarily define the scope of future involvement. Overcom- ing obstacles that might keep men from being the “high-five” dads they and their family need them to be is key. Involved fathers benefit children.
Most research on child development has focused on how mothers influence their children, but in recent decades, society has “discovered” fathers. In many stud- ies, pioneering Psychologist Ross Parke, Ph.D., professor emeritus of University of California, Riverside, and others have conclusively shown that children of more-involved dads are better at solving puzzles, score higher on cogni- tive skills tests, do better in school, are more likely to go to college, are more empathetic, manage their emotions better, have fewer behavior problems, are less likely to suffer from depression or mental illness and are less likely to break laws or become teen parents. Fathering tip: Never miss an op-
portunity to change a diaper, play with the kids, read stories together or simply ask them about their day. Equal workplace policies matter.
24 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA
NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
The U.S. is the only economically ad- vanced country that has no nationally mandated paid maternity leave policy and is absent a national paternity leave policy, paid or unpaid. When men don’t get time off to learn basic parenting skills, it’s harder for them to stay engaged later. In 1977, 41 percent of women and
35 percent of men in dual-earner couples reported work-family life conflicts. Today, the figures are 47 percent and 60 percent, respectively, according to the Families and Work Institute’s ongoing National Study of the Changing Workforce. Parenting tip: Advocate for na- tional, paid parenting leave policies for men and women starting with local employers. It benefits both families and companies. Studies by Stanford Uni- versity, the Families and Work Institute, Gallup, Inc. and others have found that companies with family-friendly benefits enjoy more loyal employees, better mo- rale, lower turnover, fewer arbitrary sick days, higher levels of customer service and higher shareholder returns—all of which contribute to their bottom line. Both genders can be naturally
nurturing. Certainly, women are bio- logically adapted for giving birth and breastfeeding, but Parke found that caring new dads typically cuddle, coo, giggle, rock and feed their babies just as much as new mothers. One hurdle men face is that they usually have to return to work sooner, and their natural nur-
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