Exploring the role of today’s fathers

With the recent celebration of Father's Day, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a timely paper on the role of fathers in child development suggesting how pediatricians can engage and work with fathers more effectively.  We are once again reminded of the importance of fathers and their contribution to child development, from the prenatal period through adolescence.

The AAP defines fathers broadly as the "male or males identified as most involved in caregiving and committed to the well-being of the child," which does not only include biological fathers, but encompasses any man with a close relationship. Despite this broad definition, nearly all of the studies reviewed had to do with biological fathers in various types of relationships with their children.

While this paper was directed at pediatricians, it contains useful advice that fathers can apply to their day-to-day relationships with their kids. Here are a few:

Don't stop playing. Research shows that fathers tend to play differently with children, engaging in more stimulating and vigorous play than mothers. So continue to roughhouse, and play tag or keep away. This type of arousing play and play that encourages risk taking (within limits) helps children learn to deal with impulses and explore the world around them.

Be involved. Having a father absent by the time a child is 3-years-old results in higher rates of behavior problems, while a father's presence has a positive impact on cognitive, educational and emotional outcomes. Active involvement by fathers can be complicated by the dissolution of the relationship with the child's mother and fathering additional children with other mothers.  Despite complex family relationships, fathers should still aim to be as involved as possible.

Role model good health behaviors. Children's overweight status tends to mirror that of the parents, and in two-parent homes is more like the father's than the mother's. Fathers present a key role model on healthy behaviors such as diet and physical activity. In addition to teaching kids to be kind and to share, fathers are also teaching them good habits and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Don't believe the stereotypes. Myths about black families and fathers are challenged by the data. Of the 3.8 million black fathers in the United States, 2.3 million live with their child, 600,000 are incarcerated, leaving 900,000 other fathers not living with their child. While 72 percent of black children are born to unmarried mothers, it appears that the majority of those mothers do live with the father, and those fathers actively participate in the family and raising their children.

The structure of families is changing in our society, and the roles of men and women in the workforce are also changing at work and at home.  However throughout all the change, it is clear that fathers play an important, distinctive and valuable role in raising children.  We need to continue to support all fathers in this important task.

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