DadTalk Blog

The DadTalk blog features insights from dads and Responsible Fatherhood practitioners from around the country. Its goal is to start conversations about important issues surrounding fatherhood and programs for fathers today.

May 23, 2013

Despicable Me 2 Characters Featured in New National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse Public Service Announcements!

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) and the Ad Council unveiled a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) that feature footage from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Despicable Me 2. The PSAs will…

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Featured Authors

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

Results 1 - 10 of 31

Feb 11, 2020

Happy New Year! Making the New Year meaningful with your Children.

Welcome to 2020, a new year and a new decade! The new year is a great time to teach children about making meaningful resolutions, starting new habits, and planning meaningful activities. Think about creating some traditions that they can pass on to their children! Here are some ideas to help you make this new year extra special.

Give back to others. This is a great time of year to teach kids the importance of being kind and helping others. The Points of Light, whose mission is to inspire, equip, and…

Feb 8, 2019

Children’s Sleep Health

What comes to mind when you hear the term “new parent?” Maybe it conjures the image of a frazzled and sleep-deprived adult. Parents both new and old are often seen as chronically tired, which has well-documented ramifications on their health and well-being. What about children, though? Although kids seemingly have boundless energy, their sleep needs and cycles are profound and ever-changing. Quality sleep at all stages of childhood is even more crucial for proper growth and well-being because children’s bodies and brains are still developing. This blog post will explore the importance of…

Dec 7, 2016

Keeping Warm During Cold Weather

Ed note: This post originally appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog. View the original post here.

As the days and nights start to get colder, there are steps you and your family can take to ensure a safer winter.

Keep Temperatures Consistent

Home energy studies show that keeping homes a constant temperature of at least 68 degrees can prevent health and safety-related crises, such as asthma or hypothermia, that may result in hospital visits. It’s also more…

Nov 14, 2016

Tips on getting and staying healthy this November

November is a great month. For sports fans, baseball, football, hockey, and basketball are all active at the same time (if only for a few days of baseball). For lovers of the outdoors, cool weather and changing leaves in many parts of the country are a great opportunity to take a walk or hike as a family. At the end of the month many families will come together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

November is also a month where we have an opportunity to focus on men’s health issues with efforts like No-Shave November and Movember. It’s also open enrollment season for health…

Sep 8, 2016

Supporting Healthy Habits: Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

The month of September is now recognized across the nation as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. As we continue our efforts to combat the continuing crisis of childhood obesity in the United States, it is important to recognize that we have made some progress in recent years. However, there is still a long way to go.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing severe health problems later in life, including high blood pressure and chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.1 In order to work toward a healthier future for our nation’s young people,…

Aug 31, 2016

Be Prepared! September is National Disaster Preparedness Month

As the old adage goes, we must hope for the best while still preparing for the worst. Unfortunately, disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods happen all too often in our communities. However, initiatives such as National Disaster Preparedness Month encourage families to put contingency plans in place should emergencies arise. This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait, Communicate,” with an emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities, as well as those with access and functional needs. Weekly themes include …

Jun 13, 2016

More Than Haircuts: How Barbershops Can Help Men and Fathers

"Most of you see a barbershop, but I see an opportunity…I can remember going to the barbershop with my dad as a kid. We went to Mr. Mike’s barbershop every other Saturday, and, like clockwork, the same group of men would be there every time we went, either waiting on their favorite barber or just soaking up the atmosphere…I remember the range of the conversations was immense. The men would talk about politics and sports and music and world news, national news, neighborhood news...and health.” ~ Joseph Ravenell, TED2016:…

Jan 25, 2016

Helping Fathers and Families that are Parenting in a Violent World

Ed. Note: This is a repost from the ACF Family Room Blog on December 30, 2015. View the original post.

According to a 2014 DOJ report1, 60 percent of children are exposed to violence, sometimes on a daily basis. Exposure to violence lowers soft skills and increases risky behaviors.2

It raises the potential for being a potential perpetrator.3 Children exposed to violence are more likely to have problems in…

Jan 19, 2016

Resolve to stay healthy

This time of year, many people are striving to achieve, or remember, their New Year’s resolutions. Many of us set goals to take better care of ourselves and spend more time with those we love. Even with the best intentions these goals can be difficult to juggle with busy schedules and more immediate priorities. In fact, one in every three Americans have abandoned their resolution by the end of January.1 While this statistic may be discouraging, there are strategies you can use to make your resolutions both purposeful and attainable.

Be accountable. Choosing…

Sep 29, 2015

Get ready to get covered

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. November is “Movember” and “No-Shave-November” to raise awareness about men’s health issues.

Observances like these are excellent reminders of the importance of actively paying attention to our health,…

Featured Authors

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

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