How to Be a Better Father: The Importance of Engaging with Children
Today’s modern fathers have challenges, but are more determined than the generation before to learn and commit to how to be a better father.
With an increase in technology, I see many fathers who struggle to switch off once they come home, because phones and emails are so accessible. This behaviour role models disengagement, and can impact a child’s self-esteem and self-worth on a subconscious level.
Nine out of 10 fathers aren’t proactive in their home life, and wait until the situation is beyond their control before they look for help, according to Million Happy Dads. With an ingrained societal reluctance to engage in deep conversations that men can find challenging, fathers often avoid conflict and choose not to acknowledge hardships or difficulties, instead seeking help when the situation is dire, and often after a partner’s insistence. www.millionhappydads.com
Research conducted by the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that fathers regularly engaging with children improve their child’s academic chances at school.* These children also tend to have fewer behavioural issues and, on average get higher reading scores. But while modern fathers show an increased interest in actively participating in their child’s life more than the generation before in order to understand how to be a better father, career challenges are still restricting their work life balance.**
CEO and founder of Million Happy Dads – a website that shares advice for fathers and creates the space for dads to collaborate and support each other – Mark Pereira says that every father shows his child how to behave through subconscious programming, whether they intend to or not. “With an increase in technology, I see many fathers who struggle to switch off once they come home, because phones and emails are so accessible,” says Mark. “This behaviour role models disengagement, and can impact a child’s self-esteem and self-worth on a subconscious level.” www.millionhappydads.com
Million Happy Dads was born from a community need from dads wanting to feel supported and understood by like-minded fathers, and a range of programs grew from that after men expressed a desire to gain further guidance from parenting leaders.
“Dads need to be more accountable for the lessons they’re passing on to their children. They do this by considering what the best version of themselves as a parent and partner might look like, and then strive to be that person every day,” Mark said.
Being a father and husband himself, Mark can relate to those who are trying to carry out their responsibilities in the best way they can. He considers himself fortunate to have grown up seeing his own grandfather, father and later his father-in-law try to put a lovable meaning into the word ‘fatherhood’. www.millionhappydads.com
“Engaging successfully with children can be as simple as researching fun things to do with kids. It’s not difficult to know how to be a better father if you have the tools, resources and support around you,” says Mark.
To read more advice for fathers, or for more information on the programs Million Happy Dads offers, visit www.millionhappydads.com.
Sources:
* http://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistics
** http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/18/5-facts-about-todays-fathers/
About Million Happy Dads
Million Happy Dads is passionate about providing a supportive and collaborative online platform to allow fathers to find solutions to everyday parenting problems. Million Happy Dads recognises the shortage of support opportunities for new and existing proactive dads within their local and online communities, and the absence of assistance to help them nurture and develop their parenting skills.
The company dedicates itself to creating happier dads on a daily basis, by offering a range of time-flexible, on-demand online video courses, personal coaching sessions and parenting programs. They work with fathers who feel overwhelmed, out of their comfort zone or stressed, by helping them regain control of their work and family responsibilities.
Million Happy Dads also provides dads with access to a trusted ‘dad’ community, to help fathers learn and grow their skills as a parent, to take the first steps towards a more balanced, fulfilling and happier life for themselves and their family.
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- Contact Information
- Mark Pereira
- CEO
- Million Happy Dads
- (61) 421 800 731
- mark@millionhappydads.com
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