Twenty-four million children in America grow up without a father in the home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The National Fatherhood Initiative says the absence of a father or father-figure can have negative consequences for a child's health and academic and psychosocial development. Though it is important to have a nurturing father-figure in a child's life, this does not have to be the biological father.
Healthy Development
Infant mortality rates are 1.8 times higher in infants born to mothers who are not married, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative. The reasons for this might be related to the decreased likelihood that single mothers are getting adequate prenatal care or health care in general and having unhealthy habits during pregnancy, such as cigarette smoking. Also, a study of more than 10,000 families done by the American Academy of Pediatrics in November 2000 indicates that toddlers living in families with no biological father or caring father-figure are more likely to suffer a burn, fall or be injured in an accident.
Academic Development
Infants with fathers who are more involved and nurturing have higher IQs in addition to better language and cognitive abilities, according to a 2006 report published on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. The report indicates that children with supportive fathers start school earlier with better academic success and an increased ability to handle school stress and frustrations. Adolescents and young adults also tend to have increased verbal skills, intellectual functioning and academic success related to the presence of an involved father, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education in 2001.
Psychosocial Development
Fathers have an important role in developing a child's social and psychological development. According to a study conducted by University of Maryland researchers in 2000 and reported on the Medical Center website, children with supportive and nurturing fathers or father-figures in their lives are more assertive, enjoy more social acceptance, have higher self-esteem and are less likely to exhibit signs of depression. In the study, these findings were constant for boys and girls, in addition to black and white children.
No Biological Father
If the biological father is not present in a child's life for various reasons, another male or father-figure can fill his important shoes. Male family members such as a grandfather or uncle, male neighbors or male mentors can act as father-figures and become nurturing and active partners in raising your child.
References
- The National Fatherhood Initiative: The Father Factor
- Child Welfare Information Gateway; The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children; Rosenburg Jeffrey, Wilcox W., Bradford; 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center; UM Researchers Find Further Evidence to Support the Importance of Fathers; May 2000
- Parenting -- A Much Better Way; The Importance of Fathers; 2009
