Research shows that a father’s positive e
ngagement can improve child well-being whether they live full-time with their children or not.
Fathers make important contributions to their kids’ development—and do so in ways that are different from mother’s contributions. Fathers are more likely to use advanced language around young kids, which promotes vocabulary development. Fathers also tend to prioritize rough-and-tumble play, letting kids explore, and playing more than caretaking, which establish independence and positive social skills. Positive father engagement has been linked to better outcomes on measures of child well-being, such as cognitive development, educational achievement, self-esteem, and pro-social behavior.
Positive fatherhood experiences provide great value for kids. Child Trends shares more information explaining why fathers matter at http://bit.ly/1YvwZuz.
By: Nora Rhoades
