Fathers, like mothers, are crucial for a child’s healthy development. Children look to their parents, both mum and dad to provide for their needs. They look to their parents, especially their fathers to provide them with a sense of safety and security, both physically and emotionally.
As we commemorate Child Protection Week at the end of May and beginning of June, I wanted to take a moment to highlight the importance of a Father’s role in a child’s life.
It’s no secret that all children strive to make their fathers proud. In fact studies show that an affectionate and involved father promotes inner growth and strength in a child. It also greatly affects a child’s cognitive and social development. It instils an overall sense of well-being and self-confidence.
In our May appeal, I shared a story of a little boy who had been abused and neglected by his own father. His mother had passed on and he looked to his father for love, support, and affection, but all he got was abuse, neglect and abandonment. You can only imagine the emotional trauma a child goes through when the one person in his life that is suppose to keep him safe and protected violates that safety. It’s heart-breaking! The sad reality is that this is one of many cases we’ve had to deal with and many children across the world are victims of.
Fathers play an important role in a child’s life that cannot be filled by anyone else. That role impacts and shapes them into teenagers and then later adults. They become who they were shaped to be! Over my years of working with children I’ve come to understand that there are diverse views on fatherhood. I would like to share a few of my own views based on what we have learnt from children themselves. Without a doubt when fathers become more mindful of the role they play and commit to making even small changes in how they interact with their children, the outcome has great value for the child’s development:
- Spend uninterrupted time with your child.
- Tell them that you love
- Attend to the little things that will them to feel
- Affirm them when they do well, whether it be in sport, academics or general behaviour.
- Use appropriate methods of disciplining.
- Help them understand the outside world.
- Protect and provide for them.
- Practice what you preach, be a positive role model.