Fathering Resources
More and more research shows that involved fathers provide something special in their children’s lives. For example, recent studies have found:
- Children whose dads are involved in school do better in school and earn higher wages later.
- When dads are close to their daughters, their daughters are more likely to delay becoming sexually active.
- Even when dads can’t afford to pay child support, being involved in their kids’ lives has a positive effect on their kids.
Where can I find out more about how dads make a difference?
- The importance of fathers: What about Dad?–includes 10 steps toward better fathering.
- Improving Children's Well-Being: Understanding, Nurturing Fatherhood –a briefing paper from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
- What research says about fathers’ involvement in education.
- Sixteen Things Fathers Can Do to Support Their Pregnant Partners with how to help your preganant partner stay healthy, how to bond with your unborn baby, and how to prepare for caring your new baby.
- Becoming a Great Father to your new baby.
- Becoming a Father: The First Two Years deals with a dad’s self-concept, roles, communication, and stress.
- Troubleshooter's Guide to Crying Babies: Tips for Dads.
- A crying baby can be very stressful, but remember to never shake a baby).
- Tips for Dads: Caring for New Moms
- Fathering your Adolescent: Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship will help dads understand, support and communicate with their teen children.
Ways to be a better dad—general advice:
- Ten Ways to Be a Better Dad
- Also in Spanish: Diez maneras de ser un mejor padre
- Being an Involved Father: What Does it Mean? suggests you look at the quality and type of activities you do with your child.
- Tips for Dads: Practical Tips for Knowing Your Child has ideas for how to talk to your kids to really get to know them.
- Ten tips for dads with daughters
Special situations (divorce, deployment, prison, distance):
- Divorced Dads—Making the Most of Visitation has advice about giving your kids space, being flexible, and avoiding over-scheduling.
- Twenty Long Distance Activities for Dads at a Distance with 20 creative ideas for staying involved in your child's life when you are far away.
- Advice to Nonresidential Fathers
- Ten Ways to Stay Involved with Your Children During Deployment
- For more on military parents, see YourChild: When a Military Parent Deploys or Returns.
- Tips from a Father in Prison has 23 tips and ideas.
- For more resources for dads in prison visit the incarcerated fathers library and the children of prisoners library Spanish translation at the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated at the Family & Corrections Network.
What are some other sources of information and support for dads?
- US Department of Health and Human Services Fatherhood Initiative strives to support and strengthen the roles of fathers in families.
- The National Fatherhood Initiative is working to increase the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers.
- The Fathers Network advocates for and provides resources and support to all men who have children with special needs
- At-Home Dad is a forum for fathers who stay home with their children. Through the website you can find local playgoups, network with other at-home dads on the message board, or read the newsletter.
- Fathers' Forum offers new and expectant dads a chance to explore the many facets of being a parent. Call 510-644-0300.
- Partnership for Dads is a Michigan nonprofit organization that works to help fathers become more involved parents. They run programs for new dads, at-home dads, and to encourage fathers’ involvement in schools. Partnership for Dads also makes speakers available and publishes educational materials.
- About Dads Radio is a site that offers podcasts, a blog and discussion ideas.
- The Native American Fatherhood and Families Association works to strengthen families by encouraging fathers' involvement with children.
Compiled by Kyla Boyse, RN. Reviewed by Cindy Darling-Fisher, PhD, FNP-BC.
Updated March 2010
