Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jane D. Hull said, At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's
success is the positive involvement of parents (Brainyquote.com). Have you ever thought to
yourself how fathers make a huge impact on a child's success? People always say mothers this
and mothers that and overlook the fathers that takes the time out to be in a child's life . A father is
just as needed as a mother, they both have different positions on a child's life . A child's outcome
in life falls on the parents the way a child's performs in school, work, college, etc. Even though
some people believe fathers are not necessary for a childs success, fathers are necessary
because they enhance the childs self-esteem, provide emotional stability for the child and
There is an outstanding increase in children living with never married mothers, growing
from 221,000 in 1960 to 5,862,000 in 1995 (National center for fathering). In addition to these
sobering statistics there are unknown numbers of children who live in homes where fathers are
According to Horn, this research explains the benefits of a father's involvement with his
children. As early as five months old, many babies have already been influenced by their
interactions with their father. Those infants that have had more contact with their fathers are
more vocal and playful when placed with a friendly but unfamiliar male (Horn). A large part is
due to the fact that children begin at a very young age to establish patterns of trust and to form
their social style. When developing so early, it is not safe to assume that a child is immune to
negative influences before the father can guide his children to receive the influences of their
environment in a positive manner. A father's guidance will help a child attain a higher level of
social stability. Many adults who say their fathers were highly involved in their lives attend
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more schooling and have a higher average salary than those with lower involvement (Peter). It is
apparent that a father's interest in his child carries over to the child's own ambition to succeed.
Longitudinal studies have found that children who have a strong attachment and are
consistently involved with their fathers have better self esteem, a greater sense of competence,
and better intellectual development and academic success. According to Krampe and Fair-
weather, a father-child interaction has been shown to promote a child's physical well being,
perceptual abilities and competency for relatedness with others, even at a young age (Krampe
Fair-weather).
and important role in supporting and encouraging meaningful father involvement. This often
requires a concerted effort since there are numerous cultural barriers to active father
involvement, particularly with young children; there is a historical attitude that the fathers
primary role is a breadwinner, providing economic support for the family.Fathers have a lot of
responsibilities . Much of their time is spent at work providing for the family while their wives at
home . Because their time with their children is limited, the question for fathers is in what ways
can I as a father influence my children to do well ? Just as women and men differ from one
another , some of the influences they have on their children are inherently different . While
mothers are often seen as the nurturer , fathers often have an important role when it comes to
Another opportunity for fathers, especially when their children are young is bedtime.
Hopefully , the night has calm down and there is an opportunity to have quality time alone with
the children . Simple things such as reading a book or recounting the days events have a
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potential to make a child feel more feel more secure while depending the father- child
relationship.
Fathers tend to be more focused on more practical , educational things with their children
than moms; dads play an important role in developing their children's motor skills and ethical
limits in regard to physical interaction (Horn 3739). Children of these highly interactive fathers
are also more curious about the world around them and develop greater problem solving skills
(United States ).
Many respondents tend to believe that the most significant family or social problem
facing today is the physical abesence of a father in the home. Many family researchers show that
the fathers may influence in ways that it is hard for mothers to do . This is especially true in peer
relationship and school achievement. In studies involving over 25,000 children who lived only
one parent had lower grade point averages, lower college aspirations , poor attendance records,
and higher dropout rates than students who lived with both parent (McLanahan). This occurs
when you have no father figure at home to disciplining a child. When not in a calm , safe
environment , and have a lot of distractions occur hard for you to focus on school. When it
comes to a child and their relationship with their fathers it affects their academics and also their
self esteem level. Children in single-parent families are two to three times as likely as children in
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Professionals can demonstrate regard for father by including both parents in activities as
much as possible , and encouraging both parents to share in interactions with their children. Do
extra outreach . Ask fathers to come to appointments, participate in educational activities and
health programs. Discuss their importance to the growth , development and health of their child.
Create a father friendly environment. Make sure that furnishing photographs on the walls or in
Men are unlikely to feel comfortable , let alone welcome in a enviroment that is designed
especially for women and children. Make fathers feel as necessary as they are . Recognize and
educate fathers to the unique and critical role they have in a heathly development of their
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children. Support father-child activities or support groups for fathers that are designed to meet
their needs.
This world is demanding . Fathers hold all the answers to reparing society . Despite all
attempt from fathers, children may still have unresolved social issues;there is no cure in
fatherhood. However, fathers hold some of the keys unlocking the hopes and dreams within their
children.
John Gottman , a family researcher , indicated why it is that fathers have such a deciding
effect on their childrens lives. He states , We believe the reason fathers have this extreme
influence on their children is because the father-child relationship evokes such powerful
emotions in kids (Horn ). Spending quality time with your children can unleash this huge
Many men report that signs of tenderness were discouraged in their youth and they were
taught to be tough. A lack of role models for males as nurturers, educators or providers of daily
child care has resulted in a lack of skill knowledge about how to be nurturing and engaged in
relationships with their children. For men who were fatherless themselves or men who have
unresolved problems in relationship with their own fathers this is even more difficult.
Many other sources, however, argue that fathers are not necessary for academic success.
Jaimeo Simpson, a 23 year old male, stated that growing up as child and never being able to see
your father as well as never having a visual picture to look at to remember him was hard growing
up . He never had anyone to look up too, so at an early age he started to go down the wrong path.
He did not have any guidance from a male role model. He felt that if he had that male influence
No male present affected his education. Starting at the age of 9 he hit a teacher in the head
with a chair at school. All during teen years he spent them in juvenile detention centers , as a teen
his charges started off as assault, and drug charges. He was released from the juvenile detention
and by the age of 19 he then thought maybe things had taken a turn, shortly after being released
from the juvenile detention center Jaimeo got charged with second degree murder and is now
serving 9 years in federal prison. Growing up was extremely difficult for Jaimeo. He also stated
that his childhood would have been more rewarding with a father figure, because he would have
been able to achieve more goals such as receiving his high school diploma, and could have
avoided some of the bad choices he made (Jaimeo Simpson). It is essential to understand that
fathers have a distinct, necessary, and irreplaceable role to play in the child's development. Yet
one of the difficult challenges contemporary families and communities face is the epidemic of
Krampe , E.M, and P.D Fair-weather. Father Presence and Family Formation : A Theorectical
McLanahan, Sara and Gary Sandefur. Growing up with a single parent: What Hurts.