I know that my husband has a tremendous influence on the well-being of our kids. All the experts agree fathers play an important role in the emotional health of their children.
Studies have shown that fathers who are nurturing and playful, have kids with better IQs, and do well in school. Somehow having a Dad to look up to helps kids handle the stresses and frustrations of school with equanimity. They are also less likely to get in trouble and are generally more sociable and popular.
I have watched my husband throw our delighted babies in the air, and spin them around and when they got older they all enjoyed roughhousing. All this has been shown to be beneficial, it teaches kids how to deal with aggression without losing control of their emotions. The fact that fathers are more playful when they interact with their kids is a good thing…Who would have guessed?
Fathers also are more likely to teach kids to be independent and learn life skills, while moms tend to focus more on nurturing. Both are important, but Dad’s push for kids to do things on their own gives them the confidence to get out into the world. It causes kids to exhibit more self-control and gives them great social skills.
I know in my house, my kids love their Dad’s goofy sense of humor. Puns, play on words, corny riddles and bathroom jokes galore:
When’s the best time to go to the dentist’s? Tooth hurty (2:30)
What happened when the butcher backed up into the meat grinder? He got behind in his orders!
You get the picture. He gets a lot of guffaws and some eye-rolling but he usually keeps our kids laughing and our home a fun place to be.
To all the good fathers out there, keep on roughhousing and don’t stop telling all those bad jokes- it is actually good for our kids…
Tell us about the fathers in your lives. What do they do to make life special?
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References:
Retrieved 6/11/13:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm