The Impact of Fathers’ Rights on Child Development and Well-Being
There is a growing body of research that shows the importance of father involvement. This includes the impact on children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. It also suggests that fathers’ involvement with their children may prevent child abuse and neglect.
The role of fathers in parenting has changed dramatically over the past century, with men now taking on a greater role in their children’s lives. They are no longer just biological parents; they can be stepfathers, foster fathers, adoptive fathers or even grandfathers.
They are also involved in their children’s education, and some fathers may even be employed in the classroom or at home with their kids (Gogineni and Fallon 2013). This change means that men must become more active and responsible parents to help their children thrive, both physically and emotionally.
A number of studies have found that parents who are actively involved with their children in a variety of ways are more likely to be happy, healthy and successful. These parents are better equipped to meet their children’s needs and help them learn and develop at a rapid pace.
This is especially true for young children, who are often more vulnerable to a wide range of childhood problems and conditions, such as obesity, mental health disorders and physical maltreatment. A large body of evidence also demonstrates that children who have an engaged father tend to be healthier, happier and more successful in school than those with absent or disengaged fathers.
These positive outcomes are not only important for children, but they are also key to society at large. They provide evidence for the need to invest in father engagement programs and services that support children and families.
Across the country, offices of public assistance are increasingly incorporating a strong emphasis on meaningful father engagement into their family serving programs and services. These practices have the potential to improve a family’s overall wellbeing, and to increase the capacity of all agency staff to effectively serve children and families.
In some cases, this can be as simple as making sure that the father of a child is informed about his child’s rights to access and maintain custody and visitation (e.g., TANF). In other cases, it involves creating culture of engagement that encourages men to participate in their children’s lives and supports them in becoming good fathers.
The Impact of Fathers’ Rights on Child Health and Well-Being
Children who have an engaged father are more likely to be healthy and have more opportunities to attend school and receive a quality education. This is especially the case for boys.
As anecdotal evidence has shown, children who grow up without a father are more likely to experience truancy, homelessness, mental illness, and suicide.
The negative effects of paternal absenteeism can also be particularly pronounced for children who are living in poverty, are the victims of domestic violence or have lost both parents due to death or incarceration. If you need the help of a reliableĀ Miami divorce attorney visitĀ Davis and Associates, Attorneys at Law.