The traditional belief that every father’s primary role is to provide for the family has led to the phenomenon of “father absence.” Hands-on parenting often takes a backseat as dads spend more time working.
However, studies show dads are meant to be more than just a secondary parent, demonstrating the presence of an involved father has a great impact on early childhood development.
“The Father Effect” is an umbrella term used in research studies to refer to the positive effects of paternal presence, or in simpler terms, an involved and engaged father.
As family structures continue to evolve, there is not one fixed definition of a father, with paternal figures differing from family to family. Despite of this evolving structure, in the context of fatherhood, being involved and engaged means they have two important attributes—present and caring, writes Joshua Krisch on the parenting website fatherly.com.
“When we had Lucia, I always wanted to be there for all her firsts. No matter how busy life gets, I always make a conscious effort to make time for her—so we can learn and play together—because nothing is more important than seeing my girl grow up,” shares basketball player and father JC Intal.
No matter how fathers spend time with their children, it is scientifically proven that having a father figure who is present and caring can make a big difference during childhood development.
Being present does not necessarily mean the father has to always be in close proximity. Sometimes, fathers live in a different household, are based in a different country, or are faced with other circumstances that cause them to be physically separated from their children.
In this case, a brand of formula milk for kids suggests modern ways for fathers to remain engaged, such as video calls and writing letters. During these moments of contact, the way the mother and father interact also has a significant impact on the child, with studies showing that a good mother-father relationship helps promote better psychological and emotional health of the child.
Aside from being present, fathers must also be involved—creating meaningful and impactful interactions with their children. Acts as simple as playing outside in the rain, or teaching his child how to swim or ride a bike can allow a father to improve his child’s sense of independence, curiosity, and preparedness for the outside world.
In summary, experts assert it’s not enough for a father to identify himself as the family’s breadwinner or provider to show he cares; his child needs to really feel his care. It is also important for fathers to stay home and spend quality time with their children.
Similac GainSchool highlights the benefit of “dual parenting” through its latest television commercial featuring JC, with wife Bianca Gonzales and daughter Lucia. The campaign shows Bianca helping Lucia to grow up to be smart, and JC helping his daughter to grow up to be strong.
