Terry Bader on The Importance of Fathers

Father’s Day is right around the corner — which makes this the perfect time to discuss the critical role of dad. Dads are our protectors, teddy bears, and the guy who teaches us how to ride a bike and drive a car. There are so many reasons why our fathers are important but let’s take a deep dive into the psychological reasons behind the importance of dads.

Research on Fathers

Both parents are crucial to the development of a child. While many studies research the mother’s role in child development, the fatherly bond has only been a part of studies more recently. Another setback for fatherly research is that studies primarily considered fathers as the “other parent” and solely focused on the role mothers play. More recently, researchers are focusing on the unique and vital role that fathers play.
Before the late 1970s, most research on the father role and importance only studied children with fathers versus children whose dads had died or deserted. However, researchers decided to begin to focus on a father’s active role and not just “father absence.” Sheila Brachfeld-Child, a senior lecturer in psychology at Wellesley College, studied father and mother interactions. In the early 1980s, Brachfeld-Child asked mothers and fathers simply “to have fun with your baby.” She found that the fathers’ play style was very active, while the mothers’ play was based more on teaching activities and fine motor skills. Michael Lamb, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Cambridge, conducted a similar studied and found children turned to fathers when they wanted to play and turned to mothers when they were stressed or upset.

Child Development

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study on the fatherly role and found “even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections.” This study also found that children with involved, caring fathers also have higher educational results. The importance of a father’s involvement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Various reports find that an active and nurturing style of fathering links with better intellectual functioning, verbal skills, and academic achievement among adolescents.

There is no question that fathers play an important role in every child’s life. Many studies and reports affirm that an involved father can play a significant role, especially in the behavioral, cognitive, and general health and well-being areas of a child’s life.

Terry Bader is an experienced and compassionate social worker in Tacoma, Washington. She has over 27 years of experience and is committed to providing unparalleled service to her clients. Read more of her divorce support or check out her Twitter!

Originally published at terrybader.com on June 14, 2018.