The majority of African American children live in homes without their fathers, but the proportion of African American children living in intact, two-parent families has risen significantly since 1995. Black Fathers in Contemporary American Society looks at father absence from two sides, offering an in-depth analysis of how the absence of African American fathers affects their children, their relationships, and society as a whole, while countering the notion that father absence and family fragmentation within the African American community is inevitable. Editors Obie Clayton, Ronald B. Mincy,…
While there have been many books about child development and motherhood, precious little has been written about how fathers change and develop as parents or about how children influence their fathers development. Yet most fathers know that a man who's just found out that his wife is expecting is a very different kind of man from the one he'll be when he holds his newborn in his arms for the first time. And that same dad will have changed again--psychologically and emotionally--by the time his baby speaks for the first time. Fathers evolve and develop throughout every stage of their children's…
"The fathers may soar. And the children may know their names," Toni Morrison wrote. In Black Fathers, Kristin Clark Taylor takes this wisdom to heart. Focusing on the irreplaceable gifts fathers bring to their children's lives as well as on the untold joy that comes from fathering a child, she invites all black fathers -- those who soar, those who are only learning how to fly, and those whose wings have been temporarily clipped by circumstances or personal failure -- to celebrate themselves, heal the fissures that separate them from their children, and reclaim their place in the hearts and…
Whether his passing was sudden or gradual, regardless of the health of the father-son relationship ... when the man who gave you life dies, a part of you dies as well. It is an emotional rite of passage that affects who you are, how you relate to others, how you deal with your past, and how you face your future. You will find study questions at the end of each chapter in this book as authors Dave Veerman and Bruce Barton share their own emotional journeys, along with the insights and practical advice of professional counselors.Each chapter of When Your Father Dies also focuses on a specific…
Rev. Rick Meyer contends that when children do not have the assurance of knowing they are deeply loved and cherished, persistent emotional deficits often result. Males experience and express these deficits in unique ways. The boys and men profiled in I Love You, Son reflect the struggles of adolescent boys and adult males as they face their own emotional deficits in relation to God, self, and others. This unique contribution to the topic of being male today encourages men's efforts as husbands and fathers and extends the words of God--"Behold, my son, whom I love" (Matthew 3:17)--to all men…
The mission of this book is to give dads short, practical ideas to build a quality relationship with their 8- 12-year-old sons.Dad, build a lasting bridge to your son's heart. This critical period when he's between eight and twelve years of age is the time to build an unbreakable bond with your son. But how do you forge a strong and resilient relationship that can withstand those potentially turbulent teenage years lying just up ahead? Dad's Everything Book for Sons is a practical, hands-on manual for dads who have the will but aren't quite sure of the way to give their sons the legacy of a…
This introduction discusses the development of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program (HIPPY), a home-based early intervention program that helps parents teach skills important to school readiness and success to their 3 to 5-year-old children. This free service is delivered by HIPPY home visitors who live in targeted high-need communities. It discusses the goals of the book, including its advocacy of an international network that can increase the productivity, quality, and quantity of HIPPY programs, its use as a resource for HIPPY practitioners and for researchers,…
This fact sheet discusses the influence fathers have on children's health habits. Two of the most important modeling behaviors fathers can provide are their own diet and exercise habits. A 1999 study by Child Trends concluded that, "the most serious threat to the health of American children is the behavior of their own parents." Other research has found that families whose fathers modeled and supported good eating habits tended to eat more meals together, watch TV less, and exercise more often.
This brief highlights findings from research about the impact of father involvement on child development and well-being. The literature includes studies of intact families, as well as families in which children do not live with their father. In general, the research indicates that fathers can have a significant impact on cognitive development, academic achievement, and social development, especially when they participate in child care tasks and utilize a warm and nurturing parenting style. Child support is associated with positive cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes for children…
This book analyzes how the absence of African American fathers affects their children, their relationships, and society as a whole, while countering the notion that father absence and family fragmentation within the African American community is inevitable. It begins by offering possible explanations for the decline in marriage among African American families, including the limited economic prospects of many men who live in the inner city that impacts their ability to provide for a family. The book then considers marriage from an economic perspective, emphasizing that it is a wealth-producing…
