1. Don’t Forget Dad (For the Kids Sake)

2. Learning Objectives
Describe how father involvement benefits children and mothers
Identify the unique contributions that fathers bring to families
Identify barriers that may keep fathers from being involved in their children’s lives
Identify strategies for working with moms to help them understand the importance of fathers and help them figure out ways to involve fathers
Identify strategies for engaging fathers in their children’s lives and for engaging fathers in home visiting

3. What is a Dad? Biological father Stepfather Grandfather Uncle
Significant role model
A positive male role model
What ever their children may call them, Dads:
Love their children
Want to be involved
Want the best for their children

4. Identifying “Dad” Learn how each family defines “family”
Help each family work together to support the child

5. What is Father Involvement?
Father involvement is the welcomed inclusion of
fathers (biological, step dads, uncles, etc.) in your
program.
Displaying of father friendly posters & literature.
Positive interactions with dads while they are
in your building, class, home visits, bus etc.
Seeing dads as “co-parents” instead of the "other” parent.

6. Some Common Barriers to Dads Involvement In Programs
Staff attitudes.
Lack of understanding of different parenting styles.
Viewing fathers as just a “pay check”.
Unrealized anger towards men in your own life.

7. Overcome Barriers in Involving of Dads
Staff training
Supervisory support (full support)
Willingness to accept differences, adjust to them, and
implement any useful changes.
Personal attitude adjustments (including men)
Adjust our expectations of men

8. Keep in Mind… Study after study have proven that a positive father/ father figure in a child’s life is critical to their development. It is also up to fathers/ father figures to step up and do their part.

9. Reflect Do we really want to involve males in our program?
What ways can we reach Dads for inclusion?
What ways can we make our dept. father friendly?
In what ways do we already include Dads in our program?

10. What Does an Involved Dad Look Like?
Spending time with his children
Participates in daily routines
Provides financial support
Shares child care responsibilities
Shares decision-making

11. Some Ways To Include Dads
Special events/ activities sponsored by your center (field trips, parent meetings, etc..)

12. Child enrolment applications-
(space for both parents, or gender neutral)
Group connections (staff attitudes)
Having dads do an activity with the children.
Use of space for fatherhood meeting or activities.

13. Why Dads Matter Children need both parents!
Children with involved dads are more likely to:
Finish high school
Attend college
Find steady employment
Have healthy relationships as adults
Children need both parents!

14. Dads Matter Because Positive impact on child development:
Social-emotional
Cognitive
Language
Motor Skills

15. Impact on Social-Emotional Development
Children with Involved Dads:
Experience deep bonding and secure attachment
Have great self-direction and impulse control
Are more likely to better tolerate stress and frustration

16. Impact on Social-Emotional Development
Are more resilient and playful
Have better adaptive and problem-solving skills
Have better emotional control, greater self-esteem, and more friends
Dads are more likely to use delayed gratification as a motivator

17. Impact on Cognitive Development
Involved Dads are more likely to:
Promote their children’s independence and exploration of the world
Play with familiar toys in new and unexpected ways
Positively impact math and verbal skills
Facilitate children’s problem-solving
Stimulate children’s curiosity

18. Impact on Cognitive Development
Involved Dads are more likely to:
Engage in physical and recreational activities
Devote more time to spontaneous and unstructured play
Offer children choices
Play “make believe”

19. Impact on Motor Development
Dads’ rough-and-tumble play helps children:
Explore their bodies’ abilities
Learn to regulate their emotions
Practice gross motor skills

20. Impact on Language Development
Dads tend to:
Use a more diverse vocabulary
Ask more open-ended questions

21. Contributions of Dads
Dad can use his own strengths and abilities to connect with his children
Teach children about gender differences
Provide a male role model
Have a less predictable parenting style
Challenge children to take acceptable risks

22. Benefits for Mom and Baby
Better pregnancy outcomes and improved postpartum health
More competent as a mother
Greater financial security
Less parental stress

23. Benefits for Dad When dad is involved prenatally:
Begins to see himself as a dad
He feels more connected to his child
After the baby is born, dad will:
Feel more satisfied with his life
Have increased relationship stability
Have his child’s love and affection
Better health

24. Barriers to Dads Involvement
Mom might act as gatekeeper
Tension because of child support
Domestic violence
Incarceration

25. Cultural Humility
Recognize the role of cultural values, beliefs and behaviors
Create programs and interventions that incorporate those influences
Treat fathers as equal to mothers
Learn from each dad and family about their culture
Ask open-ended questions
Be aware of ethnic identification, religious influences, socio-economic status, age
Be aware of your own biases

26. Engaging Dads in Their Children’s Lives
Help dad identify ways he is a good dad
Teach fathers about the importance of their role
Encourage dad to take an active role
Find out what dad is interested in
Encourage him to share his interests, talents and skills

27. Engaging Parents in Shared Parenting
Educate mom about the importance of dad’s involvement
Encourage dad and mom to share parenting
Encourage both to be actively involved with their children
Offer referrals for relationship counseling

28. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Hebrew Proverb
THANK YOU
Nick Corsi
Parent Educator
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