The Importance of Fathers for Child Development

A father’s presence serves an integral role in his children’s upbringing. However, not everyone has a positive relationship with their biological father. Instead, they may have a father figure in their lives through a grandfather, an older sibling, an uncle, a community leader, a teacher, a coach, or a colleague. A father’s love is portrayed through his purpose of providing, protecting, and spearheading his family. In most eyes, mothers are characterized as the children’s primary caregivers. However, a father’s positive involvement brings a more positive outcome in his children’s social competence, performance in school, and emotional regulation according to Doctor of Parenting & Culture, Ms. Jennifer Lansford’s Psychology Today’s Article: The Importance of Fathers for Child Development.

Providing is a key role that fathers carry for their families. This implies to demanding levels of accountability they have the courage to accept, ensuring their children and the children’s mother have shelter, food, running water, and transportation available at their leisure. His underlying willingness to provide is implemented through his sacrifice in making sure that his family does not lack. He dedicates countless hours of labor and finds the necessary means to provide for his family.

A father willing to provide for his household is a man that sets the example of leadership. His role as the “head” of his family, is being an exemplar through his actions. This is not only demonstrated through his need to provide; it is viewed by his countless acts of love towards his children by planning family trips, teaching his children how to ride a bike, taking his kids to see their favorite movie, or helping them with their homework.
Just like a house must be protected from intruders, a loving father must protect his family’s safety. Protecting the life of his children and their mother ranges from ensuring the locks on the doors function properly, and fixing broken things, to having a fire emergency plan in place, and effectively communicating on difficult issues without demonstrating acts of violence. According to The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, one in five women experience domestic violence at some point in their lives, and over 15 million children witness domestic violence each year. The most common types of domestic abuse are physical, emotional, financial, isolation, and stalking. These acts of violence have proven to affect children as victims or even witnesses to these acts. The conflict between parents is detrimental to the children’s well-being, especially when it is unresolved.

When a situation such as this takes place in the home, Pee Dee Coalition aims to heal these broken homes through the Alternative to Violence (ATV) Program. This program is dedicated to stopping domestic violence by changing the behavior that causes it. The goal is to enable abusers to identify alternative ways of dealing with emotions without the use of violence. This is a voluntary program; however, most are referred by the judicial system.

ATV Success Story:

John is a husband and father of eight children. He was fully employed and worked hard to provide for his family. One particular evening, John had some drinks with friends and returned home under the influence. The evening turned for the worst when John assaulted his wife during an altercation. This led to an arrest for a Domestic Violence 1st degree and his participation in the ATV Program. After completing the 26-week program, John expressed that it has helped him end his alcohol addiction, and his abuse, and even his parental skills have changed for the better. Reflecting on the incident, John took responsibility for what happened and aimed to continue to better himself. In a position to John’s story, Allen McBride, ATV Director stated that “Most men and those that are fathers like John, feel a sense of empowerment due to the culture in which they are raised. It is their core beliefs and their values that get in the way of making healthy and appropriate alternatives to conflict. The ATV program makes every attempt to target and change those stereotypes. This gives the clients options to replace what has not been working in keeping their family safe”.
Pee Dee Coalition pays tribute to all fathers for Father’s Day and advocates for those families who have or are continuing to experience some form of violence in the home. Pee Dee Coalition is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to the reduction of sexual assault, family violence, and child abuse to the needs of victims and is a member of United Way. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, please call the 24-Hour CRISIS LINE at 843-669-4600 or 1-800-273-1820. If you or someone you know who is just like John, have them to call the Alternatives to Violence Program at 843.673.2008.