Hudson Valley Parent

The evolution of fatherhood W mother and father. hat child hasn't In 1988, Kyle Pruett heard, "wait until wrote an influential your father comes book called The home..." after they Nurturing Father. He misbehaved? Gender roles believes that there is a have indeed evolved, but stronger sense today has the image of fathers among social scientists changed with it? and the public that Historically little research fathers are valuable and has been paid to fatherhood that men clearly parent and its effects on child AUL differently than women. development. If you read all CHWARTZ He also believes the early studies of parenting fatherhood is rising and its effects on children, steadily in our culture's it was all about mom, but Child esteem. where were fathers during Behavior Parenting behavior these early studies? studies show that Contemporary research has been examining the father's role fathers tend to concentrate their efforts in a diverse area of roles, with much more interest, and has called the Five P's. found that fathers play an 1. Problem Solver. As problem extremely critical role in the wellsolver, dads demonstrate ways to being and positive development of foster self-reliance and independence. their children. If a child is raised without an Contemporary research shows effective problem solver model, he fathers have a distinct and or she often adopts poor problem necessary role to play in their solving strategies that cause them child's adaptive development. to become ineffective even helpless Father involvement has been in problem situations. correlated with such variables as 2. Playmate. Research shows higher self-esteem, enhanced that fathers spend more time, academic achievement, enhanced proportionately, with their children language skills, greater social in physical play than mothers. maturity and fewer behavioral and Physical play is important in a psychological problems. child's life, not only in building This result holds true even if the father doesn't live in the same home muscle tone and coordination, but also in teaching rules that govern as the child. It's important to note behavior such as taking turns and that the father doesn't have to be playing physically without the biological father for a child to hurting others. reap the benefits. It can be a 3. Punisher. This was often the stepdad, an adoptive father or exclusive role that fathers held. another male figure in the Studies of family practices have household. consistently shown that it's best to What researchers are finding out have fathers just as involved as any is that a father's love and other caretaker in the child's life. involvement is just as important This means dad should not be the and sometimes more important "exclusive" or "designated" punisher. than a mother's love. Children are Putting father in this role sets up clearly major beneficiaries when some negative role expectations for they are raised by a warm loving S 8 Hudson Valley Parent June 2013 "A father's love and involvement is just as important and sometimes more important than a mother's love." P both boys and girls. 4. Provider. From the time of the industrial revolution up until the 1960s, a father's primary role was the "breadwinner." In the past few decades, the father's role has changed. Many fathers are spending more time at home with the children while mom goes to work. Research is clear that children who receive positive attention from their parents do better in most aspects of their lives than children who don't receive this attention, regardless of how much money they have. 5. Preparer. Research overwhelmingly reflects father's importance in developing selfesteem and social development, including interpersonal skills and intellectual development. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the absence of a father in the home is the most significant single predictor of a later conviction for a violent crime. David Blackenhorn asserts in his best-selling book, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem, "the most urgent domestic challenge facing the United States in the new millennium is the re-creation of fatherhood as a vital social role for men." Paul Schwartz, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and education at Mount Saint Mary College.

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