Author: rcook

Why

involve
dad?

MAN

P WER

When men are actively
involved in their
child’s education...
Children:
do better in school
enjoy school more
are less likely to repeat a grade
are able to make better choices
have better attendance
are more likely to graduate high school and attend college
exhibit better behavior and values
are better equipped to resist peer pressure

Try these online resources to
support your efforts in engaging dads at your school:
www.fathersource.org
National Fatherhood Clearinghouse and
Resource Center
www.fatherhood.org
National Fatherhood Initiative
http://fatherhood.hhs.gov
Health and Human Services Promoting
Responsible Fatherhood.
www.fathers.com
National Center for Fathering
www.fathers.com/watchdogs
Watch Dogs (dads of Great Students)

Harness one of the most powerful
Influences on our children and their
future... dads and other father figures.

What’s So Different About Dad?

Just the

FACTS

25% of resident fathers reported never participating in a school activity
69% of non-resident fathers reported never participating in a school activity
40% never attend school based parent meetings
38% of fathers indicated they had never read a book to their child
32% have never visited their child’s classroom
23% never attend parent/teacher conferences
19% never help with homework
18% never review child’s report card
US Dept of Education Study, 1997
National Center for Fathering report, 2008

Fathers Play With Their Children
Playing provides children with opportunities for self growth and discovery. Playing helps children develop confidence and mastery of the world around them. Play helps foster close emotional bonds and helps children recover from emotional distress. Fathers tend to engage in physical play with minimal direction, only intervening when a child has overstepped a boundary. In doing so, children are learning self-regulation, how to identify their own emotions and how to put themselves in the shoes of someone else.
Fathers Promote Independence
Fathers tend to encourage exploration, discovery and risk taking behavior in a way that encourages independence. They are less likely to rescue their children by offering relief from frustration which teaches children persistence, adaptation and competence. As children experience success and mastery within a variety of environments, their confidence grows and they are more likely to look for creative ways to solve problems.

Fathers Solve Discipline Problems While Teaching Self Control
Fathers are more likely to issue commands than requests and are less likely to tolerate noncompliance. They are more able to maintain emotional distance from discipline issues, emphasizing rules and consequences, and are notably less susceptible to manipulation from misbehavior and negotiation. This combination allows fathers to provide greater consistency and predictability for their children with offers them security and the ability to make connections between actions and consequences.
Fathers Expect Excellence
Parents’ expectations are a tremendous motivator for children. From play time to school work, fathers consistently challenge their children, more so than mothers, expecting them to demonstrate determination and hard work in pursuing their goals. Not surprisingly, children tend to remain loyal to their parents’ expectations and will live up to – or down to – them.
Adapted from The Fatherstyle Advantage