Attachment between fathers and their children is reciprocal.
It is foundational, restorative and yields life-long benefits to Both Child and Father.
Contrastingly, Abandonment and Detachment creates fear, insecurity, anxiousness and avoidance in children with many negative impacts.
- In adult Males detachment from father in childhood creates: Emotional Turmoil, Sexual Acting Out, Higher Measures of Guilt and Shame, Memory Loss, Aggressiveness etc.
- In adult Females detachment from father in childhood creates: Sleeper Effect, Increased Desire for Attention and Affection, Loss of Support in Life’s Decision etc.
Children need fatherly figure as their role model, mentor and hero. The Classification of Fathering Roles as:
- Natural Fathers
- Step Fathers
- Adoptive Fathers
- Foster Fathers
- Grandfathers
Fathering attachment and involvement affect and impact children from infant stage. When the attention and affection of fathers are directed toward their children, their children’s hearts are turned toward their fathers.
Fathers who are more attached with their infants create secure infants that fathers are:
- More Extroverted
- More Agreeable
- Had more Positive Marriages
- More positive overlap between work/family
Healthy Attachment behaviors by fathers have positive early childhood outcomes. Grandparents also provide building blocks for a healthy successful childhood. Children with Attached Father feel the fathering closeness as:-
- I knew what my father felt toward me
- My father was supportive of my interests
- It was easy to get close to my father
- I enjoy thinking about how my father treated me
- I maintain regular contact with my father
- I know how my father feels about me
- I feel at peace with my father
Children who feel closeness to their father are:
- twice as likely to enter college or find stable employment after high school
- 75% less likely to have a teen birth
- 80% less likely to spend time in jail
- Half as likely to experience depression
Facts:- Children with attached fathers:
- Have increased cognitive competence
- Have more confidence and empathy
- Are less susceptible to peer pressure
- More internal locus of control
- Higher measures of self esteem
- More secure in their gender identity
- Stronger self-concept
- Greater problem solving skill
Fathers Closeness on Sons will effect on Married Men as:-
- Sexual Satisfaction
- Marital Satisfaction
- Familial Satisfaction
Fathers Closeness on daughters will impact on women as:-
- Acceptance of body image
- Delay sexual debut
- Achieve goals and dreams
The Impact of Fatherlessness on Children:
- 5X more likely to be Poor & 10X more likely to be Extremely Poor
- 70% of juveniles in reform and long term prison inmates
- 2X more likely as high school droput
- More emotional & behavioral problems
- Girls – 3X likely to be unwed teenage mothers
- Boys – more unemployed, incarcerated & un-involvement with own child
Father Involvement:
- Commitment / Motivation
- Understanding a life-course perspective
- Developing a strategy
- Time & Action
Connecting with Your kids ……
The ICANs of Fathering ………
· Involvement (Time)
· Consistency (Preditability)
· Awareness (Their World)
· Nurturance (Affirming your kids)
Sharing by Dennis Chan (GESS PTA)
- after the Dads for Life Conference May 2011