Although a mom often is a child's first and primary caregiver, fathers also are immensely important in raising well-adjusted, happy and successful children. Moms and dads bring different strengths and styles as parents, and these roles complement each other. Kids need love, support, and involvement from both their parents.
Benefits of a Father's Involvement
According to Christine Langlois, author of "Raising Great Kids," children whose fathers are involved in their everyday lives have better social development, self-esteem and chances of academic success. This may be because a father's role in child-rearing is different from a mother's, or because children benefit from having the increased attention and interest from both parents. The best predictor of this involvement is the number of minutes fathers spend one-on-one with their children. Kristen Finello from "Parents" magazine writes that kids whose dads are actively involved usually also have better language skills and fewer behavioral problems.
Boys
Langlois writes that dads play a special role in the lives of their sons, modeling what it's like to be a man. Fathers can show boys how to have dignity, integrity and respect for others. They can help boys to grow into responsible, caring men who are good fathers themselves. According to Finello, boys who have involved dads are less likely to commit crimes when they get older. The Institute for the Study of Civil Society, or Civitas, reports that boys who admired and wanted to emulate their dads scored higher on tests of personal moral judgment, moral values and rule-following. Boys who did not identify with their dads showed reluctance to accept responsibility for actions, had problems with self-control, and acted more aggressively at school.
Girls
Fathers also help girls develop their sense of what it means to be a woman, according to Langlois. A woman's relationship with men seems to be based on her relationship with her dad, the first male in her life. Daughters learn from their fathers that they are worthy of being loved by a man. Fathers are also models of how a man should treat women. Finello reports girls whose dads are less involved tend to have more mental health problems later in life. When a father praises his daughter, she seems to develop more independence and confidence.
Babies and Toddlers
Langlois writes that fathers influence their children's social confidence by being the first "stranger" their baby encounters. Infants regard their mother as an extension of their own body, but their father is altogether different. So a strong bond between dad and baby can help establish good social relationships later on. According to Civitas, primary school children usually show more empathy for others if they experienced secure attachments to their fathers during infancy. Most dads have a more boisterous and physical way of playing with their babies and toddlers than moms do, and this can encourage problem solving, physical development and exploration. Fathers can serve as examples of how to interact socially. When fathers are affectionate and helpful, children are more likely to get along with siblings and playmates.
School-Age Children
According to Langlois, fathers often encourage their kids to take chances in situations where moms would urge more caution or intervene. Dads tend to believe that their children are more physically capable, which leads kids to overcome challenges and have higher self-esteem. Finello writes that children whose fathers did basic things like asking them what they learned at school that day, reading to them, going on outings or inquiring about their day-to-day activities are more successful academically. Dads who exhibit a strong commitment to their families provide a model of responsible behavior for their children. According to Civitas, the level of a father's involvement in a child's studies predicts academic success. If both parents value education, a child is more likely to value it and take it seriously, and this can lead to success in the career world later on. Kids with supportive dads usually also have fewer behavioral problems and seem better able to get along with others and control emotions.
