A father's impact is as significant as a mother's, but his interactions tend to affect unique aspects of his children's development, according to the University of Connecticut's Center for the Study of Parental Acceptance and Rejection. For example, a father's interaction with his children is more likely to have an impact--positive or negative--on psychological adjustment, substance abuse and promiscuity, according to the website Dads Divorce. Moreover, mothers are more effective in their role when they have the support of a nurturing father.
Counterpoint
Mothers and fathers both teach their children from an early age, but they do it in contrasting ways. Generally, mothers hold their babies snugly, speak softly and use repetitive rhythms, while fathers tend to provide greater stimulation in their verbal and physical interaction. This stimulation is important in your child's brain development and may have an effect on his intellectual, social and emotional development, according to the British Institute for the Study of Civil Society.
Play
Fathers also spend a larger percentage of their time with their children in play activities than do mothers, and this interaction tends to be more physical, according to the Institute for the Study of Civil Society. In this engagement, you provide a safe environment that challenges your children to build their strength and learn new skills. At the same time, you teach them about boundaries and how to interact with objects and other people.
Role Model
As a father, you are a role model for your children and they will tend to follow the example you set. For example, when a father demonstrates strong commitment to the family, his children are more likely to take personal responsibility for their own success or failure, rather than blaming others or external factors for their failures, according to the Institute for the Study of Civil Society. Conversely, if a father consistently interferes with his children's learning by presenting solutions to them, he can hinder their development of problem-solving skills and damage their creativity.
Teen Years
Children tend to value independence in their teen years and it is not uncommon for them to pull away from both parents. In fact, they spend an average 21 hours watching television per week but only 35 minutes talking with their fathers, according to the Healthy Place website. During this phase of their development, they may rely more on their mothers for emotional support, but they tend to turn to their fathers when they need advice or someone to stand behind them.
Noncustodial Fathers
If you are separated or divorced and do not have custody of your children, your presence in their lives is still important. You can help them, for example, by providing consistency in enforcing the same rules that apply in their residential home. Children in joint custody arrangements score significantly higher on behavioral, emotional and family relational adjustment tests than children in sole custody situations, according to a 2002 analysis conducted by University of Maryland Department of Health.
References
- American Psychological Association: Meet the Renaissance Dad
- Healthy Place: The Importance of Being A "Good" Father
- DadsDivorce.com: Understanding the Importance of Father-Daughter Relationships
- Civitas: How Do Fathers Fit In?
- Journal of Family Psychology: Child Adjustment in Joint Custody Versus Sole Custody Arrangements
