Are you a hands-on or active father to your children? Or are you a partner to someone who is? With around 95% of UK dads attending the birth of their children, we’ll bet many dads have a full-on experience of those first moments, days and weeks. But did you know that continuing to play a role as an active father is really important for childhood development throughout all the early years?
We’re joined by single father Jack Shaw of men’s lifestyle magazine Modded to explain why active fatherhood is so important to a child’s development.
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Why Am I Championing Active Fatherhood In The Early Years (And Beyond)?
I believe that hands-on childrearing is the greatest act of love fathers could give to their kids. Although any skilled caregiver can supervise and keep your newborn, infant, toddler or preschooler out of harm’s way, being an active father significantly contributes to early childhood development.
Why Are Fathers Important in Children’s Lives?
Every family looks different, but in my experience dads are more likely to push their children out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to explore and test their abilities in a controlled environment. Rough-and-tumble play with fathers can help kids learn to regulate feelings, control their behaviours and take calculated risks. These skills allow youngsters to avoid issues related to violence and aggression later in life.
Paternal care uniquely impacts children’s neurodevelopment. Male children who grow up with highly caring fathers are likelier to become highly caring dads themselves. Not to mention, being actively involved in caregiving and homemaking helps your spouse or partner stay physically healthy and mentally fit too.
How Does Being an Active Father Benefit You As A Parent?
Playing an active role in your children’s lives also benefits you. Fatherhood – and parenthood in general – rewires your brain’s reward circuit. This brain area regulates pleasure, motivation and reinforcement learning — an adaptive process in which you use your previous experience to improve the outcomes of your future decisions.
In other words, your priorities change when you father children. You become a more conscientious, prudent and responsible human being. These neurological changes can begin as early as the first four months of parenting, so being actively involved in your kids’ lives benefits you sooner.
Bonding with your kids raises your levels of serotonin, the love hormone. Physical contact causes you and your babies to release oxytocin, promoting positive feelings.
What Does Active Fatherhood Look Like?
Fathers can interpret active parenting differently. Some may consider being a reliable financial provider enough, while others have different standards for how to be more hands-on. Here are some examples if you’re a first-time parent and don’t know how to be actively involved in your child’s life:
1. Take Parenting Classes –Be An Active Father To Help Childhood Development
While parenting doesn’t come with a manual, you can learn the essentials in the classroom.
Carrying, feeding, burping, changing nappies, bathing and other newborn care basics lay the foundation for fatherhood. Learning these skills enables you to confidently and safely look after your baby, bringing the two of you closer together from the start.
2. Talk, Sing And Read
Babies begin to hear at 18-20 weeks in the womb. Verbally interacting with your child before birth allows them to recognise your voice.
3. Be Present During Labour and Delivery
Being with your spouse or partner in the hours leading to your child’s birth is momentous. Welcoming your baby into this world helps improve father-child attachment.
4. Pick Up Your Baby
Carrying your child is magical. Physical closeness with your baby facilitates trust between the two of you. Anchoring early childhood development to such a strong emotional connection helps your kid grow into a well-adjusted adult.
5. Share Caregiving Duties – Be An Active Father To Help Childhood Development
Splitting caregiving responsibilities with your spouse or partner enhances your parental skills and makes life easier for everybody.
Childbirth can be a traumatic experience for mothers. Your spouse or partner needs all the help she can get to recover quickly and be a self-assured parent. The more healthy, loving caregivers surround your baby, the better.
Take time off to be available and give your child undivided attention after birth. You may be eligible for up to two weeks of paid paternity leave. Take advantage of it to proactively perform childrearing tasks without distraction from work*.
*see Happity’s extra note on Shared and Unpaid Parental leave below
6. Attend Doctor’s Visits
Staying current with your child’s growth and development before and after birth matters. Seeing your baby’s first ultrasound images, listening to their heartbeat, being present during newborn screening and comforting them after vaccinations are key milestones you shouldn’t miss.
Why Being An Active Father Is Crucial In Early Childhood Development
Hands-on parenting is about willingness and effort. Even if you consider yourself less instinctive than other fathers, you can nurture your child effectively when you make a conscious decision to be actively involved in their life from the beginning. If you live apart from your child’s mother, you can still be supportive and have a positive relationship in different ways.
Thanks To Jack Shaw – Modded
With a specialised focus on personal growth, Jack Shaw‘s articles provide actionable steps and valuable wisdom to ignite self-improvement. Jack is the senior Lifestyle editor of Modded, where he explores topics of mental health, relationships and parenting from the perspective of a single father. You can also find his works published in Tiny Buddha, Parent Co., Calmerry and more.
Did you know that you can take shared parental leave before your child’s first birthday? So your partner can agree to split their maternity leave with you. You can take the remainder of their maternity leave consecutively (maybe while they go back to work) or you can overlap so you’re both home at the same time.
Unpaid Parental Leave is there for you to take more time with your child as they grow up. Each parent can take up to 18 weeks leave per child up to the age of 18, at a maximum of four weeks per year.
Want To Get Out And About, Have Fun With Your Baby Or Toddler, And Meet Other Parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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