If anyone believes that a father’s influence is any less important than a mother’s, they are wrong. Having involved, engaged fathers in their children’s lives can have enormous social, mental, and emotional benefits- whether a father is an everyday fixture in a child’s life or only sees the child once in a while.
Benefits of Dads being involved and engaged in their children’s lives:
- Increased self-confidence, self reliance.
- Empathy (share feelings), self control, well being and assertiveness
- Higher academic achievement
- Lower delinquency rates, lower rates of teen violence, failing/dropping out, legal issu es
- Better career advancement
- Score higher on cognitive (mental) tests
- Improved cognitive ability
- More likely to avoid teen pregnancy, early marriage, physical/emotional abuse
- Positive risk taking increased, willing to try new things.
- More equipped to resist peer pressure-premature sex, smoking, eating disorders
- Better sociability and better able to work with people in authority
Mothers, yes, you are extremely, extremely important in your children’s lives. However, even the best mother cannot be a father to her children. Therefore, it is very important for mothers to allow and encourage fathers and children to spend time together. It is and will be a huge benefit to the children!
