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Fatherhood Articles

The role of fatherhood in child development

Fatherhood is an important influence in early childhood development. In the articles and blogs below you will find a wealth of research, going back 40 years, supporting the role of the father in child development. Gain advice and learn more about fatherhood below.

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Fathers influence child development just as mothers do. Fathers’ involvement in the first months is linked to babies’ cognitive development. Involved fatherhood correlates with better academic performance in all socioeconomic groups. Sensitive father-toddler play is linked to higher performance in math in preschool.

Fathers’ involvement is likely associated with numerous aspects of social and emotional development – the ability to make friends, less risky sexual behavior in girls, and better behavior. Stronger father-infant attachment is linked to fathers caring more and playing more.

As with mothers, early adverse experiences in fathers can influence the development of their children, with links to more inattention, anger, and anxiety in children and also later self-harm and suicide.

Mothers and fathers influence each other and can compensate for deficiencies in each other’s parenting. A supportive father is associated with anxious and stressed mothers parenting less harshly. When fathers take more parental leave, mothers use less prescription medication. One parent with good social support buffers a child from the ill effects of the other parent’s depression.

Nurturing fatherhood is embedded in male biology. A father’s brain changes when he cares for a baby. Neuroscience shows that fatherhood is similar to motherhood, particularly when fathers care more, calling into question the idea of a “primary caregiver” as anything other than a social arrangement. Mothers and fathers are equally sensitive to their four-month-olds.

The Child and Family Blog assembled 21 of the world’s leading father-child researchers to sum up knowledge from research. The result was the Global Fatherhood Charter.

Fatherhood Articles

The role of fatherhood in child development

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Articles 9 of 80