ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ᴅᴀᴅ… (ᴇxᴄᴇʀᴘᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴛɪᴄʟᴇ ɪɴ ʙᴏʙᴀ)
HOW TO BECOME A MORE INVOLVED DAD… (excerpts from an article in Boba)
Researchers enumerated 15 distinct ways in which fathers tend to be involved with their children:
• Communicating
• Teaching
• Monitoring
• Engaging in thought processes
• Providing
• Showing affection
• Protecting
• Supporting emotionally
• Running errands
• Caregiving
• Engaging in child-related maintenance
• Sharing interests
• Being available
• Planning
• Sharing activities
Some other researchers focus on play behavior as being central to fathering, just as nurturing behavior is seen as essential to mothering.
Do not forget….
• Have fun.
Fathers are uniquely suited to bond with their children by engaging them in play and fun-filled activities. These sorts of interactions help children learn to navigate the world around them, understand compassion and empathy, and gain control over their impulses, among other benefits.
• Don’t stop as children get older.
Fathers should maintain the active, physical, and playful style of fathering as their children age,” according to the report. “In other words, when it comes to father-child fun, active pursuits like tossing the football, playing basketball, hiking, or going to the library are more valuable than spending time in passive activities such as watching television—for their relationship and for their child’s emotional wellbeing, social development, and physical fitness.”
• Be productive.
It’s very important for children to do productive tasks with their fathers—such as cleaning up around the house, doing laundry, or working in the yard. These types of shared activities instill in children a sense of responsibility and self-esteem. And in the long run, engaging in helpful activities with dad can help kids succeed in school and live, have greater psychological wellbeing, and be more engaged civically.
• Teach them.
When fathers are involved in their children’s educational activities, children are more likely to succeed academically. This engagement can take a number of forms, from reading with children to helping with their homework or attending parent-teacher meetings.
This is one area in which a father’s involvement has even more significant impact than a mother’s.