We always hear stories about fathers who refuse to participate in their children’s lives – but is that stereotype even true? New information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more fathers are getting involved with their kids, showing the benefits of the Fathers’ Rights movement throughout the Minnesota court system. A survey from the CDC found that 90 percent of dads who live with young children bathe, diaper and dress their kids several times during the week. Surprisingly, fathers who do not live with their children full-time also performed these tasks about 30 percent of the time.
Statistical evidence shows that kids tend to benefit from a dad’s involvement. Fathers indeed provide a unique type of influence in children’s lives, improving their psychological and social health. Researchers have changed their approach in recent decades from focusing on families without paternal involvement; now, child custody experts are more likely to be concerned with families that have even limited interaction with fathers.
It is important to note that nearly two in three co-residential co-parenting dads with kids younger than five years old read to their children several times each week. Another 23 percent of those who are not co-residential read to their children with that same frequency. Further, the vast majority – 93 percent – ate meals with their kids several times a week if they lived together. Four in five co-residential dads also play with their children every day.
Although these statistics may not provide a look into every family’s life, they do support the fact that visitation rights for dads are increasing their access to their children – and rightfully so! Dads deserve child custody rights, as contact with fathers improves children’s lives. Fathers who are having difficulty gaining the access to their children that they deserve may benefit from the services of a qualified family attorney, who can help them learn more about their legal options.
Source:
The Christian Science Monitor, “Good news for kids: Fathers playing a bigger role in their lives” Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, Dec. 20, 2013