Model Healthy
Relationships
Dads
!
k
c
o
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— by Christa Melnyk Hines
P
eruse the greeting card sec-
tion around Father’s Day
and you’ll find the shelves
bursting with stereotypes about dads.
While we may love to poke fun at his
expense, we have more reasons to ap-
preciate dear old Dad besides how
handy he is with a wrench. Supportive
dads and father figures positively in-
fluence a child’s development. Here’s
how.
Emphasize Education
Father of three, Brett Clark joined
Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Stu-
dents) and All Pro Dad programs at his
kids’ elementary school, four years ago.
He says the programs give him valu-
able insight into what’s happening in
his children’s school and by extension,
their lives.
“Growing up, I don’t recall my
dad — or any fathers for that matter
— attending school with me or know-
ing what I did everyday,” Clark says,
whose children are Colton, 12, Carter,
10 and Rowen, 6. “Programs like Watch
D.O.G.S. are important for a number of
reasons. But most importantly, I believe
it is vital for children to see their dad
engaged in their education and life.”
Researchers agree. Kids, who see
both their parents actively involved in
6 WNY Family June 2018
their school life, are less likely to get
into trouble for behavioral issues, per-
form better academically, and are more
likely to graduate from high school.
Th rough Watch D.O.G.S., dads,
stepdads, grandpas and other father
figures manage an assortment of tasks
from completing school security checks
and greeting kids as they arrive at
school to providing homework help.
They also jump in during the lunch
hour to help peel open those stubborn
half-pint cartons of milk, offer clean-up
assistance, and dine with their kids.
“Eating lunch with your son or
daughter offers a unique insight into
your kids’ friends and what they talk
about, what they think is funny and how
innocent their minds are,” Clark says.
Some dads even
stick around for recess.
Emotionally secure, nurturing dads,
who help with day-to-day childcare and
household chores, don’t just neutralize
assumptions about gender roles in the
family. Their support enhances a moth-
er’s overall sense of emotional well-
being. Her happiness trickles down,
helping the entire family feel more well-
adjusted and resilient to stress.
“Secure fathers (and mothers) are
likely to have secure kids. A sense of
security means the person sees him or
herself as worthy of being loved,” says
psychologist and researcher Omri Gil-
lath, Ph.D., University of Kansas.
Research suggests that children,
especially boys, who have a positive
relationship with their fathers are more
likely to have higher quality romantic
relationships as they enter adulthood,
Gillath adds.
Both boys and girls, who experi-
ence positive relationships with their
dads, are also less likely to engage in
first-time risky behaviors like substance
abuse and premature, unsafe sex.
Teach Emotional
Management
Boys can learn how to manage
emotions like anger from their fathers
while girls can gain self-confidence and
the expectation that they deserve to be
treated with respect.
“It’s important for fathers to be
Did you know?
“It’s amazing how
cool the kids think it is
getting someone to push
them on the swings,
play tag, play basketball
or football,” Clark says. Fathers, who help around the house, are
more likely to raise daughters who envision
a broader range of possible career options for
themselves.
To learn how your
school can start a Watch
D.O.G.S. group visit
https://dadsofgreatstu-
dents.com/. Fathers, who help with caregiving, feel more
patient, empathetic and flexible.
Fatherhood is linked to lower blood pressure,
lower rates of heart disease and longevity.
— Source: LeanIn.org