{"id":2396,"date":"2020-10-20T06:59:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-20T11:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/?p=2396"},"modified":"2020-10-20T09:41:04","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T14:41:04","slug":"how-dads-make-a-difference-for-their-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/2020\/10\/20\/how-dads-make-a-difference-for-their-children\/","title":{"rendered":"How Dads Make a Difference for Their Children\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_2148\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2148\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2148\" src=\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/files\/2019\/11\/child-1835730_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2148\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/Pexels-2286921\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1835730\">Pexels<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1835730\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>A <a href=\"https:\/\/contemporaryfamilies.org\/fathers-day-fact-sheet\/\">fact sheet<\/a> prepared for the Council on Contemporary\u00a0Families\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mentally\u2026<\/strong>Dads foster their children\u2019s development by challenging them both cognitively and physically. Dads\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/cogs.12349\">promote children\u2019s communication skills by asking children questions and requiring them to clarify what they are saying<\/a>. Dads\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/03004430903414687?casa_token=c3n8Eh4X3LEAAAAA%3A0NwO5lpjuPzs10h4xn1l5tthy5wQV9s43qFRbvqTBJf_TeU7liEkHhVjf0SttX57YzTkwM0ZaKuT\">encourage children to take age-appropriate risks<\/a>\u00a0and go outside their \u201ccomfort zone,\u201d which can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0272735816300836?casa_token=dY6oLhEFzbwAAAAA:C4-ndEklvwbPb2xbWm8Jb-Kdagk7MFZ7DqEfxHXjSPYoDH9wb5L7Tdukloy72xQUS1mIw6mWpA\">help children develop confidence and reduce anxiety<\/a>. But don\u2019t leave all the consoling and calming tasks to mom, says sociologist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/yalebooks.yale.edu\/book\/9780300072150\/gender-vertigo\">Barbara Risman<\/a>. Men who take primary or equal responsibility for childcare are just as nurturing and sensitive as women, and great models for their children.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Things to try: Read together with young children and engage them in back-and-forth conversation using\u00a0<em>wh<\/em>-questions (i.e., Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?). For older kids, form a \u201cbook club\u201d where you both read the same book and talk about it together. When on the playground, stand back and allow children to attempt new activities on their own first, without interfering, but provide safety and encouragement from the sidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Emotionally\u2026<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/14616734.2019.1582596?casa_token=iFw80dQXLIYAAAAA%3A_uDbdjAYitGoL1AGLSWiBSGAOnsOqY10A9C3RQrChiJqbxWef6_SQp3qX1jvPixFFhXOl4O2fbrI\">Dads who laugh with and praise their toddlers have kids who are less distressed in frustrating situations<\/a>. When children experience anger and sadness, Dads\u2019 support helps kids\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/j.1467-8624.2007.01074.x?casa_token=w7pn6XGNzLIAAAAA%3AXS06227zYGstAwdXXquWxeJVudUM0vmO_pHG_nf3HOFlgZtbO156eJYedRQip2nDGnQ1Q09V2uMdL08\">learn how to manage their emotions and have better relationships with friends<\/a>. And when\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11199-016-0696-9\">Dads show their teens love and acceptance, their teens have more positive outlooks and greater confidence and get better grades in school.<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Things to try: When your kids are upset, validate their feelings\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/asu.pure.elsevier.com\/en\/publications\/the-coping-with-childrens-negative-emotions-scale-ccnes-psychomet\">and help them brainstorm solutions or alternatives to the source of their frustration<\/a>. For example, if your child gets upset that a favorite toy broke, tell them it\u2019s okay to be sad and help them figure out how to fix it or suggest another fun activity they could do instead. Hug your kids often, and tell your kids that you love them as much as you can!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Healthily\u2026<\/strong>Dads help raise healthy children by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2019-11194-001\">being present at regular family meals<\/a>\u00a0and by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.humankinetics.com\/view\/journals\/jpah\/12\/9\/article-p1327.xml\">encouraging healthy eating and physical activity<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcresearchpress.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1139\/apnm-2016-0572#.XuOL_EVKhPZ\">modeling healthy behaviors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Things to try: Kids are more likely to eat foods that they helped prepare, so involve your kids in making meals and snacks. Even preschoolers can help prepare food (for example, washing or mixing ingredients, brushing bread or potatoes with oil) and older kids can help with chopping and cooking. Take walks or hikes together, play tag or basketball.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Remotely\u2026<\/strong>Dads don\u2019t have to live with their children to make a difference: Non-resident fathers who are involved in child-related activities and maintain good relationships with their children\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2013-27136-002\">have a positive influence on children\u2019s social and academic outcomes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Things to try: When you can\u2019t see your child in person, check in regularly via phone, video-chat, or texts. Ask open-ended questions that invite conversation (\u201cWhat\u2019s something that made you happy this week?\u201d) rather than yes or no or vague questions. Some activities can be done \u201ctogether\u201d virtually, for example being on a video-chat with your child while both watching a favorite tv show.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Intergenerationally\u2026<\/strong>What Dads do now not only affects their children, but their grandchildren as well. Dads who are more involved in parenting their kids\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/15295192.2018.1405700?casa_token=nGUmYldD0bIAAAAA%3AMcP5mLRRhNK7lz11OB0FfEMuRGihSlwLBt84sfQu1PyyEq8HeS6HL8i02bYXxAjcVc-D3Okl4YaQ\">raise sons who grow up to become more involved fathers and who have better quality relationships with their own children<\/a>. In addition, Dads who coparent well with Moms\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/imhj.10056\">have sons who later form supportive relationships with their own parenting partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/contemporaryfamilies.org\/experts\/sarah-schoppe-sullivan\/\">Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan<\/a>, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, <a href=\"mailto:schoppe-sullivan.1@osu.edu\">schoppe-sullivan.1@osu.edu.<\/a> Kari Adamsons, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, <a href=\"mailto:kari.adamsons@uconn.edu\">kari.adamsons@uconn.edu.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A fact sheet prepared for the Council on Contemporary\u00a0Families\u00a0 Mentally\u2026Dads foster their children\u2019s development by challenging them both cognitively and physically. Dads\u00a0promote children\u2019s communication skills by asking children questions and requiring them to clarify what they are saying. Dads\u00a0encourage children to take age-appropriate risks\u00a0and go outside their \u201ccomfort zone,\u201d which can\u00a0help children develop confidence and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2095,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30834],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-research-reports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2095"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2396"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2399,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396\/revisions\/2399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/ccf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}