Dads Create Great Connections

“My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”                       ~ Clarence B. Kelland

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to do a brain presentation at the Next Door Foundation Fatherhood Initiative program in Milwaukee.  It was such a pleasure to work with this group of dedicated Dads!  They requested the topic of brain development and I found they came in with a great amount of prior knowledge and interest in learning more. It was very impressive to have discussions based on the very insightful questions they asked. These men are very concerned with the optimal development of their children and are very good role models.  More about the project at a national level can be found at http://www.fatherhood.org

This experience prompted me to write a blog specifically focusing on father’s. It seems that it is still all too frequent that the emphasis of parenting is put on the mother. However, recently it appears that there is an increase in the focus on the great impact and importance Dads have on children’s overall development. Following are a few bits of information to help us celebrate the great connections Dads create!

• One research study revealed the impact a father can have on language development of 2 to 3 year olds. Click here for the study
• In the book, The Science of Parenting by Margot Sunderland, she states the impact of rough and tumble play. Typically fathers tend to have more of this physical play with children. “If you have lots of physical playtimes with your child, it’s highly likely that you are enhancing the development of her higher human brain, with all its amazing functions, including better management of emotions and stress.”
• The Good Men Project Magazine has several very good articles related to fathers and good men in general.
• A blog written by a father with a post you may enjoy---- The Images of Dad.

Happy Father’s Day!