Working with dads in authentic ways
- 1. Working With Dads In Authentic Ways
- 2. Welcome to C&K V1.015 © This document is the property of C&KPage 2 Working With Dads In Authentic Ways
- 3. Agenda • What’s the Problem • Importance of Dads to children for- – Behaviour – Coordination and Movement – Social and Emotional Development – Language – Learning and Attention • Working with Dads
- 5. Problem? • Family-inclusive practice = children, mum AND dad • However, there is a tendency amongst family and child workers to overlook fathers (Flemming, 2002; Brown, Callahan, Strega, Walmsley, & Dominelli, 2009; Cameron et al., 2014). • Many professionals are also ambivalent about involving fathers in their work (Berlyn, Wise, & Soriano, 2008; Brown et al., 2009; Department of Families, 2009; Fleming & King, 2010; Panter-Brick et al., 2014).
- 6. Problem? • Family research where many studies fail to mention fathers and those that do often rely on mothers as proxy respondents for their partners (Mitchell et al., 2007). Over a five-year period, only 24% of family-focused articles included information about fathers and only 12.5% included fathers as participants in the actual research (Shapiro & Krysik, 2010). • Worryingly, fathers are often portrayed in literature in negative ways (Cameron et al., 2014; Fleming & King, 2010), for example as being ‘potential dangers to women and children’ (Cameron et al., 2014, p. 14).
- 7. Behaviour
- 8. Behaviour Positive father involvement = decreased boys' problem behaviours (especially boys with more challenging temperaments) better mental health for girls Decreased hyperactivity reduced teen violence & delinquency and other problems with the law (Fogarty & Evans, 2009). less likely to be sexually involved at an early age, less likely to have babies out of wedlock, less likely to be involved in criminal or violent behaviour. more patient, curious, and confident. More self discipline, self control and longer attention span (Biller, 1993) improved general life skills Children in neighbourhoods with a high concentration of fatherless families are 3 x more likely to be incarcerated Biller, H.B. & Solomon, R.S., Child Maltreatment and Paternal Deprivation: A Manifesto for Research, Prevention, and Treatment, Lexington, MA: Lexington, 1986. Radin, 'Primary caregiving and rolesharing fathers of preschoolers', in Lamb (ed.), Nontraditional Families, 1982, pp. 173-208; Sagi, A., 'Antecedents and consequences of various degrees of paternal involvement in childrearing: The Israeli Project', in Lamb (ed.), Nontraditional Families, 1982. Fogarty, K. & Evans, G. (2009).The Hidden Benefits of Being an Involved Father. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he137 Henry B. Biller, Father and Families: Paternal Factors in Child Development (Westport, CT: Auburn House, 1993). Paul R. Amato, Children in Australian Families: The Growth of Competence (New York: Prentice Hall, 1987). Anne Hill and June O’Neil, Underclass Behaviors in the United States: Measurements and Analysis or Determinants (New York: City University of New York, 1993).
- 12. Social and Emotional Development
- 13. Social and Emotional Development Father involvement is associated with: Increased: empathy Self-esteem Self-control Feelings of ability to achieve Psychological well-being Social competence Life skills Fewer sex-stereotyped beliefs In a 26-year-long study found NUMBER 1 factor in developing empathy in children was father involvement. Fathers spending regular time alone with their children translated into children who became compassionate adults.(Koestner et al. 1990) Fogarty, K. & Evans, G. (2009). The Hidden Benefits of Being an Involved Father. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he137
- 14. Language
- 15. Language fathers language input makes a significant and unique contribution to their children’s later expressive language development. Specifically, fathers who used more different words in their interactions with their children at 24 months had children with better expressive language skills at 36 months of age. Father contributions to children’s language development held even after controlling for parental level of education, quality of childcare, and the same aspects of maternal language input to these young children (Pancsofar & Vernon-Feagans 2006) Fathers and Mothers speak to children differently. Mothers: simplify their words, speak on the child’s level, more descriptive, personal, and verbally encouraging (good for immediate communication) Fathers: Don’t modify their language as much, tends to be more brief, directive, and to the point, makes more use of facial expressions and body language (challenges the child to expand his or her vocabulary and linguistic skills) Children who do not learn how to understand and use both styles of conversation will be at a disadvantage, because they will experience both of these styles as they enter the adult world. Eleanor E. Maccoby, The Two Sexes: Growing Up Apart; Coming Together (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999),
- 17. Learning and Attention Fathers' interaction with babies (engaging in cognitively stimulating activities, emotional warmth, physical care) reduced their infants' chances of experiencing cognitive delay (Bronte-Tinkew, Carrano, Horowitz & Kinukawa, 2008) In fact, when fathers are good at playing with their young children, these children score higher on tests of thinking and problem-solving skills. (Radin, 1986) Because fathers encouraged their children’s responsibility (eg. carrying scissors, crossing the street, or taking a bath alone) their children scored higher in tests of thinking skills (Clarke- Stewart, 1980). Accomplishing tasks at this age is so important, and fathers' involvement is so crucial, that fathers have a larger influence on their children's self-esteem at this age than do mothers. (Amato, 1986) Clarke-Stewart, 'And Daddy makes three', Child Development, 1978; Clarke-Stewart, 'The Father's contribution', in Pedersen (ed.), The Father-Infant Relationship, 1980. Amato, P.R., 'Marital conflict, the parent-child relationship, and child self-esteem', Family Relations, 35, 1986, pp. 403-410. Radin, 'Primary caregiving fathers in intact families', 1994; Radin, 'The influence of fathers', Social Work in Education, 1986; Nugent, 'Cultural and psychological influences', Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1991. Bronte-Tinkew, J., Carrano, J., Horowitz, A., & Kinukawa, A. (2008). Involvement among resident fathers and links to infant cognitive outcomes. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 1211–1244.
- 18. Working with Dads • Get feedback from fathers • Increase the visibility of fathers in the workplace – Email me and I can send you some ‘Fathers are Important’ posters. • Involve children in recruiting fathers/ male role models • Email/ text dads specifically • Market to dads by describing the benefit/outcome (but don’t use the word support)
- 19. Working with Dads Relationships first (share how dads are important to you/ children you know) Opposition Opportunity Unconditional Regard They’re experts for their family, even if you are an expert, don’t act like one. Choice How can they join in
- 20. Contact Details Glenn Hodgson Email: g.hodgson@candk.asn.au Phone: 07 3208 1263