What if Dad is absent?
For many families, dads simply aren’t in the picture
either due to divorce, death or other reasons. Of course,
that doesn’t mean you can’t raise a well-adjusted child.
According to the 2016 Census Bureau, while the
majority of children live in two-parent homes, 23% are
being raised by single mothers. Single moms can give
their children the benefit of a father figure by seeking
male role models within their extended family, at school,
or in the community.
“There are good dads and men in the public eye, too,
who you can point to and talk about what makes them
admirable and a role model,” Limbert says.
okay expressing and allowing a full range of emotions from
both their daughters and sons,” says parent coach Tom Lim-
bert, author of Most Valuable Dad. “By acknowledging and
allowing vulnerability, anger, sadness in yourself and in your
children, you open up a supportive dialogue that will help chil-
dren grow to have healthy relationships and emotional well-
being.”
Fathers also teach their youngsters socialization skills and
self-control through rough-and-tumble play like playful wres-
tling, tumbling, and chasing. This kind of rough-housing, es-
pecially with their sons, encourages kids to take risks, learn
how to manage back and forth interactions and recognize body
language cues like when rough play should end.
Best Dressed Kids
by Mary, LLC
Children’s Consignment Shop
Quality Children’s
Clothing at
Affordable Prices
651-9453
Hours:
Mon–Fri 10am–6pm,
Thursday 10am–7pm,
Sat 10am–5pm
Spring into Summer Sale!
Begins Friday, June 1st
Buy One, Get One 50% Off
Sale includes ALL clothing, footwear, books, DVDs & select toys
4885 Broadway • Depew
(across from Rite Aid Drugs) 1 1/2 Blocks East of Transit
www.bestdressedkidsofwny.com
Enhance Empathy
Outside of their school life, Clark connects with his chil-
dren through sports activities like coaching his oldest son’s
baseball team, volunteering with community organizations like
the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association, and
by spending leisure time together.
“We enjoy being outside as a family, whether that is taking
bike rides, attending sporting events or enjoying community
events,” Clark says.
Researchers at McGill University, found that children
raised by attentive, actively involved fathers exhibited higher
levels of empathy as adults.
“The best things dads can do is to simply be present and
offer their attention and interest in their children,” Limbert
says. “Obviously it would be helpful to be empathetic and sup-
portive as well, but primarily — without complicating it — it’s
all about being present and engaged.”
Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines’ husband Jason is
a fantastic dad to their two school-age sons. Christa is the au-
thor of “Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thought-
ful Communicator in a Digital Age.”
June 2018 WNY Family 7