DadTalk Blog

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.

Jun 17, 2018

A Father’s Day Message: Trust the Process

The season of dads and grads is upon us. It is a time when celebration and thoughts of warm summer nights are in the air. The spring air is activating our joy of transitioning seasons and the promise of what the future holds for graduating youth…

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Featured Authors

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Results 1 - 10 of 44

Dec 7, 2021

Our Constant: The Unwavering Love of a Father

Divorce doesn’t have to be the end of a father’s relationship with his children. A father can be a constant parental figure, even if he doesn’t reside in the same household. No matter the circumstance of a separation or divorce, successful coparenting can give children a sense of normalcy. Children need both of their parents, and research shows that a loving and nurturing father improves outcomes for…

Nov 29, 2021

Safe Family Gatherings and Travel this Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, many families are concerned about navigating family gatherings within the reality of our new normal. You may have relatives or friends who are not vaccinated and refuse to wear a mask or social distance. This may be a heightened concern for parents with children too young to be vaccinated. If you plan to get together for a holiday gathering, your family/group will need to decide if people are going to be invited if they won’t comply with the group’s parameters.

Do we give up family traditions and cancel the holiday gatherings again this year? Is…

Aug 13, 2020

Parental Burnout: It's Real and It's Manageable

Summer is winding down, which normally is a time for parents when kids are wrapping up summer activities such as vacations, camps, and outings and preparing for the new school year. However, you and the kids have been home since March. You may be feeling overloaded because you have been trying to balance work, home life, childcare, and homeschooling--all while navigating the added stress and anxiety of this “new normal” and uncertain future. It’s understandable if you may be feeling a bit burned out, and don’t worry, you most certainly are not alone! In a…

Jun 18, 2020

The Profound Magic of Father Involvement

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…

May 26, 2020

The Importance of Play: How Fathers can Use Play to Promote Development

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…

Apr 22, 2020

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Tribute to Those Who Selflessly Help Raise Future Generations

Growing up in the 80’s, I recall watching my Uncle Shorty, a retired, decorated WWII pilot, raise his two young grandchildren. My cousin had become a victim of the opioid crisis long before it ever made national news. One night, while trying to rescue my cousin from another drug induced stupor, my aunt was hit and killed crossing a busy highway chasing my cousin. In an instant my uncle became a single parent to two very young children in his 60’s. He did his very best to provide his grandkids a stable life. They were his life. He attended every school event, signed them up for…

Apr 13, 2020

Father-Child Activities while the Kids are at Home

One of the greatest regrets I’ve heard from parents is that they didn’t spend enough time with their children when they were younger. Or that when they are with their young children now, they’re too tired to do anything creative. Questions that dads have asked include: “I’ve forgotten how to ‘play’—is this bad for my kids?” “Do we have to be ‘on’ and fully engaged at all times while spending time with our children?” “What exactly should we do with them?”

Questions like these can make the reality of caring for our kids feel daunting and stressful, so I thought it might be…

Mar 18, 2020

Should you be worried about your screen time? What about your children’s screen time?

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…

Feb 25, 2020

New Dads

With the new year, what better time to celebrate new dads! Becoming a dad, whether by birth, marriage, or adoption, is a life altering experience that comes with no instruction manual. Ross Noble, an English stand-up comedian, stated in a recent article, “A baby to me is like buying a new gadget that doesn’t come with an instruction book. And then, even if you went online and found the instruction book, those instructions will change every single day. So just approach fatherhood like an amateur.” This is so…

Feb 19, 2019

The Parental Role in Play

The way that children begin to understand themselves and the world around them is mediated through play. The value of play is in the way that children learn to navigate their world. The benefits are far reaching. For example, self-regulation learned through play helps with social relationships, academics, and at work.

Despite the benefits, busy routines mean that time for play is at risk. Academic pressures in school contribute to reduced recess time. This shift is compounded by the prevalence of technology and the rise of indoor activities. According to a Brookings article by…

Featured Authors

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

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