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Fathers

A father's presence is as important to a child's healthy development as is the mother's, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Fathers play an important role in many areas of their children's lives:

Research has shown that children who have a father or a father figure who is actively involved in their lives do better in school, get in less trouble, and attain higher levels of education and economic success.

A father's behavior has a major impact on his child's behavior. The less time fathers live with their children, the more behavioral problems their children may display.

During their children's school-age years, fathers are important to both boys and girls in terms of sex-role identity — especially for boys who identify more with their fathers than their mothers. And, although many children say they consider their fathers to be stricter than their mothers, they also appear to respond more readily to the system of "rewards and punishments" that fathers tend to use.

Fathers, use the resources here to learn what you can do to be a good role-model and an involved and supportive parent.

Additional Resources

Publications

Girlshealth.gov: For Parents and Caregivers — We have created the girlshealth.gov site to help adolescent girls (ages 10-16) learn more about some of the unique health issues and social situations they will encounter during the teen years. The Parent/Caregiver section provides resources and links to helpful information for you, to help you prepare to deal with some of the issues your girls will likely face.

http://www.girlshealth.gov/parents/

Family and Medical Leave Act Advisor — This publication provides information regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act. It includes a list of the most frequently asked questions.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/fmla/faq.asp

Healthy Start, Grow Smart — This kit includes all 13 books in the Healthy Start, Grow Smart series. They provide detailed information to parents about important issues in caring for the health and development of their baby in the first year of his or her life.

http://www.ntis.gov/cms/index.aspx

The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children — Tips for Dads — This publication provides resources and tips to help you be a better father.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/fatherhood/append_e.cfm

https://www.fatherhood.org/10ways.asp

A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Teen Years (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) — This publication provides information for parents on ways they can communicate and interact with their child during the difficult adolescent years.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/adolescence.html

http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/library/5thingsmen0502.pdf

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/behavior/368.html

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/dec06teendriver.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sex-education/CC00032

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/talk_about_puberty.html

What Is the Father's Role in the Breastfeeding Relationship? (Copyright © La Leche League International) — This publication gives information on how the father of the baby can support and be involved in the breastfeeding relationship.

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/dad.html

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated June 1, 2009.