Library Search

When most people think about parent-child reading activities, they likely picture a mother quietly reading to her children. Very few people would envision a reading event where fathers and children are acting like donkeys, elephants, and gorillas. That is exactly what happens, however, at a Dad and Kid Reading Night sponsored by Strong Fathers-Strong Families. Dad and Kid Reading Night encourages and teaches fathers to read to their children. The books are carefully chosen both to reflect the father child dynamic and to facilitate lively activity.

This Data Snapshot reports on how resident and non-resident fathers’ involvement with their young and school-age children changed from 2002 to 2016.

Data in this snapshot come from the 2002 and 2015–2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) (see Data box, page 12). Analyses are limited to men aged 20–44 who reported having at least one minor child (ages 0–18). Information on father involvement is shown separately for resident and non-resident fathers, and by child age (0–4 and 5–18), because developmentally appropriate…

This research brief covers the different stages of child development and highlights the impact non-resident fathers have on each stage of child development. This brief shows the correlation between a father’s regular presence in a child’s life and healthy cognitive development in infants & toddlers (0-2) and early childhood (2-6). Social development and academic performance are shown to be negatively impacted by the lack of fatherhood involvement in the older childhood development stages of middle childhood (7-10), early adolescence (11-14), and late adolescence (15-18). Regular and…

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of young children who are ages birth through 2 years and do not reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father-child contact, father engagement, and father financial support and their impact on cognitive development, social and emotional development, infant health, and motor development of the children. References are provided for the statistics cited.

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of young children who are ages 2 through 6 years and do not reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father-child contact, father engagement, and father financial support and their impact on cognitive development, social and emotional development, and externalizing behaviors of the children. References are provided for the statistics cited.

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of children who are ages 7 through 10 years and do not reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father-child contact, father engagement, and father financial support and their impact on academic achievement, social development, and externalizing behaviors of the children. References are provided for the data cited.

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of adolescents who are ages 15 through 18 years and do not reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father-child contact, father engagement, and father financial support and their impact on externalizing and internalizing behavior problems, academic performance, and the social development of the adolescents. References are provided for the statistics cited.

This study shows that making the effort to involve fathers and father figures in Head Start pays off- more fathers get involved with their sons. However, while father involvement programs do have an effect, the treatment resulted in relatively low levels of involvement. Therefore, practitioners must recognize that vigorous outreach is needed. (Author abstract).

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of young children who are ages birth through 2 years and reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father warmth, sensitivity, and closeness; father cognitive stimulation; father engagement; and father restrictiveness, harshness, and controlling behaviors and their impact on cognitive development, social and emotional development, infant health, and motor development of the children. References are provided for the statistics cited.

This fact sheet includes information and research findings on the child development of adolescents who are emerging adults ages 18 years and older who reside with their fathers. Research results are shared on father warmth, sensitivity, closeness and engagement and their impact on academic and work achievement/performance, socioemotional development, and externalizing behavior problems of the young adults. References are provided for the statistics cited.