8308914 1

Jane D. Hull said, At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's

success is the positive involvement of parents (Brainyquote.com). Have you ever thought to

yourself how fathers make a huge impact on a child's success? People always say mothers this

and mothers that and overlook the fathers that takes the time out to be in a child's life . A father is

just as needed as a mother, they both have different positions on a child's life . A child's outcome

in life falls on the parents the way a child's performs in school, work, college, etc. Even though

some people believe fathers are not necessary for a childs success, fathers are necessary

because they enhance the childs self-esteem, provide emotional stability for the child and

provide the child with guidance and discipline.

There is an outstanding increase in children living with never married mothers, growing

from 221,000 in 1960 to 5,862,000 in 1995 (National center for fathering). In addition to these

sobering statistics there are unknown numbers of children who live in homes where fathers are

present, but physically and / or emotionally unavailable to them.

According to Horn, this research explains the benefits of a father's involvement with his

children. As early as five months old, many babies have already been influenced by their

interactions with their father. Those infants that have had more contact with their fathers are

more vocal and playful when placed with a friendly but unfamiliar male (Horn). A large part is

due to the fact that children begin at a very young age to establish patterns of trust and to form

their social style. When developing so early, it is not safe to assume that a child is immune to

negative influences before the father can guide his children to receive the influences of their

environment in a positive manner. A father's guidance will help a child attain a higher level of

social stability. Many adults who say their fathers were highly involved in their lives attend
 8308914 2

more schooling and have a higher average salary than those with lower involvement (Peter). It is

apparent that a father's interest in his child carries over to the child's own ambition to succeed.

Longitudinal studies have found that children who have a strong attachment and are

consistently involved with their fathers have better self esteem, a greater sense of competence,

and better intellectual development and academic success. According to Krampe and Fair-

weather, a father-child interaction has been shown to promote a child's physical well being,

perceptual abilities and competency for relatedness with others, even at a young age (Krampe

Fair-weather).

In order to ensure the wellbeing of children, health professionals have a responsibility

and important role in supporting and encouraging meaningful father involvement. This often

requires a concerted effort since there are numerous cultural barriers to active father

involvement, particularly with young children; there is a historical attitude that the fathers

primary role is a breadwinner, providing economic support for the family.Fathers have a lot of

responsibilities . Much of their time is spent at work providing for the family while their wives at

home . Because their time with their children is limited, the question for fathers is in what ways

can I as a father influence my children to do well ? Just as women and men differ from one

another , some of the influences they have on their children are inherently different . While

mothers are often seen as the nurturer , fathers often have an important role when it comes to

playing with their children and teaching how to do physical task.

Another opportunity for fathers, especially when their children are young is bedtime.

Hopefully , the night has calm down and there is an opportunity to have quality time alone with

the children . Simple things such as reading a book or recounting the days events have a
 8308914 3

potential to make a child feel more feel more secure while depending the father- child

relationship.

Fathers tend to be more focused on more practical , educational things with their children

than moms; dads play an important role in developing their children's motor skills and ethical

limits in regard to physical interaction (Horn 3739). Children of these highly interactive fathers

are also more curious about the world around them and develop greater problem solving skills

(United States ).

Many respondents tend to believe that the most significant family or social problem

facing today is the physical abesence of a father in the home. Many family researchers show that

the fathers may influence in ways that it is hard for mothers to do . This is especially true in peer

relationship and school achievement. In studies involving over 25,000 children who lived only

one parent had lower grade point averages, lower college aspirations , poor attendance records,

and higher dropout rates than students who lived with both parent (McLanahan). This occurs

when you have no father figure at home to disciplining a child. When not in a calm , safe

environment , and have a lot of distractions occur hard for you to focus on school. When it

comes to a child and their relationship with their fathers it affects their academics and also their

self esteem level. Children in single-parent families are two to three times as likely as children in
 8308914 4

two parent-families to have emotional and behavioral problems.

 8308914 5

Professionals can demonstrate regard for father by including both parents in activities as

much as possible , and encouraging both parents to share in interactions with their children. Do

extra outreach . Ask fathers to come to appointments, participate in educational activities and

health programs. Discuss their importance to the growth , development and health of their child.

Create a father friendly environment. Make sure that furnishing photographs on the walls or in

brochures and other available reading materials are inclusive of fathers.

Men are unlikely to feel comfortable , let alone welcome in a enviroment that is designed

especially for women and children. Make fathers feel as necessary as they are . Recognize and

educate fathers to the unique and critical role they have in a heathly development of their
 8308914 6

children. Support father-child activities or support groups for fathers that are designed to meet

their needs.

This world is demanding . Fathers hold all the answers to reparing society . Despite all

attempt from fathers, children may still have unresolved social issues;there is no cure in

fatherhood. However, fathers hold some of the keys unlocking the hopes and dreams within their

children.

John Gottman , a family researcher , indicated why it is that fathers have such a deciding

effect on their childrens lives. He states , We believe the reason fathers have this extreme

influence on their children is because the father-child relationship evokes such powerful

emotions in kids (Horn ). Spending quality time with your children can unleash this huge

potential to guide to happy, healthy development.

Many men report that signs of tenderness were discouraged in their youth and they were

taught to be tough. A lack of role models for males as nurturers, educators or providers of daily

child care has resulted in a lack of skill knowledge about how to be nurturing and engaged in

relationships with their children. For men who were fatherless themselves or men who have

unresolved problems in relationship with their own fathers this is even more difficult.

Many other sources, however, argue that fathers are not necessary for academic success.

Jaimeo Simpson, a 23 year old male, stated that growing up as child and never being able to see

your father as well as never having a visual picture to look at to remember him was hard growing

up . He never had anyone to look up too, so at an early age he started to go down the wrong path.

He did not have any guidance from a male role model. He felt that if he had that male influence

thing may have been different for him .

 8308914 7

No male present affected his education. Starting at the age of 9 he hit a teacher in the head

with a chair at school. All during teen years he spent them in juvenile detention centers , as a teen

his charges started off as assault, and drug charges. He was released from the juvenile detention

and by the age of 19 he then thought maybe things had taken a turn, shortly after being released

from the juvenile detention center Jaimeo got charged with second degree murder and is now

serving 9 years in federal prison. Growing up was extremely difficult for Jaimeo. He also stated

that his childhood would have been more rewarding with a father figure, because he would have

been able to achieve more goals such as receiving his high school diploma, and could have

avoided some of the bad choices he made (Jaimeo Simpson). It is essential to understand that

fathers have a distinct, necessary, and irreplaceable role to play in the child's development. Yet

one of the difficult challenges contemporary families and communities face is the epidemic of

the fatherlessness, or a father's absence.

 8308914 8

Works Cited Page

Horn,Pearlstein. The fatherhood movement. Maryland: Lexington Books, 1999.

Krampe , E.M, and P.D Fair-weather. Father Presence and Family Formation : A Theorectical

Reformulations. Journal of family issues . 14.4 1993.

McLanahan, Sara and Gary Sandefur. Growing up with a single parent: What Hurts.

Cambridge:Harvard University Press,1944

J.L. Sheline Risk factorsAmerican Journal of public Health, No.84,1994

Simpson, Jaimeo. Personal Interview. 28 March 2009