This InfoSheet is a brief review of information for family services practitioners and fatherhood advocates, which highlights basic recommendations for making a father-friendly Early Childhood Family Education program. (Author abstract modified)
New families, in particular new fathers, face a world that can be very exciting but also very daunting. Most of the teachers in the early-childhood classrooms are women. Many of the parent education teachers are women. One way to help fathers feel at ease within these classrooms is to identify male teachers or volunteers who can helprecruit and welcome men into the group. This InfoSheet provides a few ways for ensuring the fathers that need help will ask for it. (Author abstract modified)
This document attempts to remove a bit of the mystery around helping parents with child support modifications. Written with the presumption that the father is the noncustodial parent who is paying child support, this same information can be applied to all noncustodial parents whether they are fathers or mothers. (Author abstract)
This InfoSheet contains a list of suggested activities for how a father can be to be involved in his child's life--whether he or she is a baby or a young adult. The key to each of these activities is finding mutually enjoyable activities that can be done all year--not just as a special event on Father's Day. (Author abstract modified)
This InfoSheet will help staff members understand the difference between the perceptions versus the reality of young fathers before beginning any program intended for them.(Author abstract modified)
Teenage childbearing is associated with many adverse consequences for teen mothers, their families, and children. Many of the negative consequences for teen mothers are due to the disadvantaged situations in which many of these girls already lived before having a teen birth. While the disadvantaged backgrounds of most teen mothers account for many of the burdens that these young women shoulder, having a baby during adolescence often restricts economic and educational opportunities, and these disadvantages tend to be passed on to the next generation. Children born to teen mothers are often…
Over two decades of research confirms that parents -- and that includes Dads -- are an important influence on whether their teenagers become pregnant or cause a pregnancy. In a variety of ways, parental behavior and the nature of parent/child relationships influence teens' sexual activity and use of contraception. While parents cannot determine whether their children have sex, use contraception, become pregnant, or cause a pregnancy, the quality of the relationships with their children can make a real difference. (Author abstract)
Research demonstrates that children benefit in a variety of ways when they have significant positive involvement with fathers and father figures. Research also demonstrates that fathers accrue a variety of benefits by being positively involved with their kids. This two-way street of mutual benefits for children and fathers is increasingly noted as a reason for strengthening the relationship between dadand child. This fact sheet highlights the broad benefits of father involvement for children and fathers. (Author abstract).
Involvement by fathers, the development of a positive relationship with their children, and the provision of child support have been shown to have a positive effect on children's social, cognitive, and academic achievement, and behavior. Children do better in school when fathers are involved, they get better grades, are less likely to repeat a grade, and are less likely to be expelled. Even for very young children, good fathering contributes to the development of emotional security, curiosity, and math and verbal skills. Fathers also play a unique role in shaping children's gender development…
A fundamental principle of child development underpinning early childhood practice is that children need stable, nurturing relationships with both men and women to develop strong gender identities. With more than 60% of young children in non-parental care during part of their day, it is of serious concern that less than 5% of the early childhood workforce is comprised of males. The low wages typically paid to early childhood teachers is often cited as the reason for this under-representation. However, this explanation only partly explains the phenomena as there are numerous low paying…
