Introduction-Why involved Fathering Matters
When we talk about involved fathers, what do we mean?
Any kind of involvement, good or bad? Obviously not. We mean a father who knows and enjoys his kids, one who shares with his partner the work and the play of raising them, one who understands them well and can handle their daily routines. We mean a man who has his own direct, close relationship with his children.
Why Get More Involved?
Involved fathers benefit everyone in the family. Click on each of the boxes below to explore how.
It's good for kids
Studies have shown that children with involved fathers are usually better off, for several reasons.
They are less likely to live in poverty and more likely to do better in school. They are more likely to have supportive relationships with both parents, and they are less likely to have a stressed-out mother. All of those things are very good for children.
It's good for mothers
Many things about family life have changed. More women with young children work outside the home. More families live far away from close relatives. And most mothers don’t have the kind of female support network that was common 25 or 30 years ago. So today, mothers need their partner’s support more than ever before.
It's good for fathers
The rules about what men do and what women do have been changing for some time. That enables men to play a bigger part in one of the great human activities: looking after children and helping them grow. There’s a huge satisfaction that goes with it that you can’t get from anything else you do, not to mention a boost to your self-esteem.