The underestimated role of fathers

Almost everywhere in the world, fathers are much less involved in their children's everyday lives than mothers. This is despite the fact that their involvement has increased in recent decades - especially in well-off families in Western countries. Nevertheless, the influence of fathers is great.

Fathers around the world mainly act as carers and protectors of the family when the children are young. Nowadays, however, as they are increasingly called upon as carers, the importance of their role as providers is sometimes underestimated. Indeed, research shows that fathers' contribution to the material well-being of the family is important in improving children's physical health and reducing infant mortality. Therefore, both types of involvement - direct (in childcare) and indirect (as a provider) - are important.

Children build a bond with their father, even if he is less involved than the mother. How much time a father spends with his child has less influence on the bond than the quality of their interaction. Children with a secure bond with a parent know that they can rely on them if they are in need or need something.

"The child's attachments to the two parents are different and complement each other." Daniel Paquette is a behavioural researcher and primatologist. He teaches observational methods, parent-child attachment and evolutionary developmental psychology at the School of Psychoeducation at the University of Montreal in Canada. His research focuses on father-child attachment and the development of social skills in preschool children in relation to their gender.
"The child's bonds with both parents are different and complement each other."

Daniel Paquette is a behavioural researcher and primatologist. He teaches observational methods, parent-child attachment and evolutionary developmental psychology at the School of Psychoeducation at the University of Montreal in Canada. His research focuses on father-child attachment and the development of social skills in preschool children in relation to their gender.

However, the time spent with the child plays a role in which parent the child forms the primary bond with. As this is usually the mother, children tend to turn to her first when they need comfort, even if both parents are present. Naturally, in the absence of the mother, they will favour the father over all other people - provided he is the secondary attachment figure. The situation is reversed if the father is the primary carer.

Encourage the child to venture out into the world

Another type of attachment develops when parents encourage their children to actively engage with their environment. This creates a so-called «activation relationship»: parents encourage their children to take the initiative in unfamiliar situations, to explore their environment, to take risks, to overcome obstacles, to be self-confident in the face of strangers and to stand up for themselves.

Both types of involvement - direct involvement in looking after the children and indirect involvement as a carer - are important.

In order for children to successfully adapt to their surroundings and social environment, they must first explore them. This requires them to take a certain amount of risk. Parents therefore encourage their children to take risks and at the same time guide them to minimise the danger. By encouraging risk-taking within an age-appropriate framework, parents enable their children to develop physical and social skills and thus reduce the risk of negative consequences.
Typically, the father is a child's primary enabler. Children are more likely to turn to their father for exciting experiences and physical interactions, such as playful romping. However, just as a man can be the primary caregiver, in exceptional cases a woman can also be the primary activator in a heterosexual couple. Some research hypotheses assume that even in same-sex partnerships, the parents take on complementary roles for the same reasons. This enables them to optimally fulfil the different needs of their children.

Typically, children tend to turn towards their father when it comes to romping around.

The bottom line is that the child's bond with one parent is no less important than the bond with the other. They are simply different and complement each other.

BOLD Blog

The blog, an initiative of the Jacobs Foundation, has set itself the goal of familiarising a global and broad readership with how children and young people learn. Top researchers and young scientists share their expert knowledge and discuss with an inquisitive readership how children and young people develop and flourish in the 21st century, what they struggle with, how they play and how they use technology.
Read more: www.boldblog.org

Read more about fathers:

  • Dossier: Fathers
    In this dossier you will find articles and interviews about the importance of fathers for children, their rights and their role in the family structure and society. And, of course, the fathers themselves have their say with their experiences.
  • Fathers working part-time
    More and more fathers want part-time jobs in order to combine family and career. But they are often stuck in old role models. And traditional ideas - and unequal wages - still prevail on the labour market.
  • When fathers are present, everyone wins
    Mothers are still regarded as the closest and most important carers for their children. But fathers are just as capable. But they have to become active themselves.