The DadTalk blog features insights from dads and Responsible Fatherhood practitioners from around the country. Its goal is to start conversations about important issues surrounding fatherhood and programs for fathers today.
One of the most frequent workshop question that I am asked is; “What does father involvement mean and what does that look like?” The goal of a father’s involvement is to nurture his child’s intellectual, emotional, physical, social and spiritual…
My parents were teenagers when they had me. An only child, I grew up feeling like I was a mistake because of the stories I heard. Neither of my parents had the skills, knowledge, or wherewithal to parent successfully. They could not provide the parental, economic, or household stability a child needs to flourish. Nonetheless, my mother, despite her age, the damage she survived, and lack of resources, did her best. My father’s story was different. He was incarcerated on and off from the time he was a juvenile. By the time I was born, he had already developed an addiction to alcohol and…
My daughters, ages 6 and 3, love Frozen. No, seriously, they love, emulate, and want nothing more than to be the sisters Elsa and Anna from the Disney Frozen franchise.
I had no idea how alluring the magic of Frozen was. The first movie arrived in theaters in 2013, 6 months prior to my first daughter’s arrival. Suffice it to say, I didn’t see it--I thought I was an adult and had put away childish things. I remember hearing that Queen Elsa was the top kids costume for Halloween in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and I thought, What’s the big deal? It’s just a princess with the power to…
When thinking about play, a person may picture children having fun, using their imaginations, and passing time lightheartedly. While play is all of these things, it is also very important for a child’s development. In fact, play is so vital that it is recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child worldwide.
The act of play fosters a child’s development by providing opportunities to refine motor skills, solve problems, and take initiative while…
I spend a lot of time each day looking at screens. I tell myself this is OK, much of the time is spent doing work, writing or responding to emails, reading books or newspapers online, and watching “quality tv” or “essential sports.” After all, I’m just keeping myself informed and entertained. If I’m honest though, I do worry about the amount of time I spend with these various screens. My guess is I’m not alone in this concern. And I’m sure many parents worry about what’s best for their children.
Luckily, although still relatively new, there is a growing body of research…
Welcome to 2020, a new year and a new decade! The new year is a great time to teach children about making meaningful resolutions, starting new habits, and planning meaningful activities. Think about creating some traditions that they can pass on to their children! Here are some ideas to help you make this new year extra special.
Give back to others. This is a great time of year to teach kids the importance of being kind and helping others. The Points of Light, whose mission is to inspire, equip, and…
Through program practitioners’ day-to-day work with fathers, they are given a unique window into the ways fathers shape their children’s development. However, it is also important to step back and dig into the research from time to time in order to keep up with any new findings around how and why dads are so vital to children’s lives. There is always something new to learn in the field of father involvement and children’s development—as practitioners, researchers, and (many of us) dads ourselves.
First, when we revisit the literature about fathers’ involvement, we need to define:…
Ed note: This post appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog and was originally posted by the FYSB National Clearinghouse for Families and Youth. View the post here.
Yvonne,* a current intern at Street Poets Inc., first came to the organization at age 16. She grew up in an area saturated with gang violence, where sex traffickers and pimps would approach her and try to lure her into prostitution. Using a range of creative programs and mentorship…
In summertime, the warm weather, increased hours of sunlight, and the absence of school open the door for all kinds of new, fun outdoor activities that may not be possible during the school year or in other seasons. Spending time in nature is both entertaining and healthy for you and your children. Sunlight gives us vitamin D, which has been scientifically proven to boost our moods and strengthen our immune systems. Exploring the outdoors also creates limitless fun, learning moments for children, and helps increase their knowledge of the world around them. The National Association for the…
Ed. Note: This is a repost from the ACF Family Room Blog. View the original post here.
Built by visionaries who sought to open avenues of opportunity for families most in need, Head Start continues to be at the forefront of transformation and innovation. As Head Start celebrates the historic 50 year milestone, it is my great pleasure to serve as the director of the Office of Head Start- to help create the…
Ed. Note: This article originally appeared on Youth Today. Read the original post here.By the time Natasha was eight, she barely spoke in school. In fact, she rarely spoke to any adults. Raised in Portland, Ore., by her great-grandmother, Natasha was paralyzed by her fears of rejection, distrust and low self-esteem.
She had sporadic contact with her parents, and other adult family members repeatedly told her she would never amount to anything. One of the few positive adult figures in…