Last update: April 16, 2017
Fathers also know what it means to educate their children and enjoy that daily closeness made up of affection, cuddles and bedtime stories. Fathers know how to feed their children, even though they cannot breastfeed; they spend sleepless nights, laugh, suffer and worry about their children that are part of their being, even if they have not grown in their womb.
The changes associated with gender roles are starting to be felt and we can only be grateful for this. Nowadays, paternity is no longer a label with which to give men the sole responsibility for supporting the family. Fathers do not "help" to educate, they are not auxiliary people, but figures present, close and always involved in the life of their children, they nourish them, love them and guide them.
It is not the flesh or the blood, but the heart that makes us fathers and children.
Friedrich von Schiller
Many pedagogues and educators believe that a child is part of a tribe. We always talk about motherhood and that intimate attachment that exists between mother and child. One cannot fail to recognize, however, that children grow up in a small microcosm also inhabited by fathers, grandparents, uncles, daddy's friends, teachers ...
Any interaction, habit, gesture or word leaves a mark on the infant brain e fathers can have a highly positive impact on their children.
The father as a figure of psychological well-being
Just as there are bad mothers, there are also fathers who make mistakes, make mistakes or adopt their role, but absent. Before being a reference figure in the education and growth of children, parents are people and, based on their maturity and their psychological and emotional balance, they will be able to guarantee a better or worse development for their children.
As a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan (United States) reveals, one of the main responsibilities of parents is to take care of their psychological well-being to promote adequate emotional balance in their children. It has been found that the cognitive development of children and their social skills are affected by the effects of unemployment, stress or bad behavior marked by a negative character.
On the other hand, the impact of the father figure on children's language development is undeniable. For the little ones, it represents a different stimulus, a different voice than the mother's, with a different tone, another gesture and a wider range of reinforcements. In the first 3 years of life, the close, affectionate, fun and accessible presence of fathers will consolidate the delicate processes associated with language.
On the other hand, we know very well that children do not come into the world with the instruction manual supplied and this for a very simple reason: they are not machines. Children are made of flesh and blood, of needs, of a beating heart and a brain eager to connect with the environment.. Babies need nutrients beyond breast milk, which even dads know and can provide.
The most important nutrients a father must give his children
The family, and the type of bond that is established in it, largely determines our person. Beyond the genetic and blood factors, there is a more intimate and private architecture in which our emotions, our fears, our limits and even our values ​​reside. These are all dimensions that a dad needs to feed properly. Let's see some examples.
- Emotional availability. The ability to meet the needs of children and the quality of this response guarantee an excellent development of the children and a better maturation process.
- The recognition. All children need to be recognized and valued by their parents. Being able to count on the look of the father, who is always attentive, valid and full of affection, has a positive influence on the development of the child's self-esteem.
- Participation. A good father is not limited only to being present, but makes his presence felt, he guides his children in discovering new things, in experiencing new emotions, in learning. A good father is a tireless "listener", with great negotiation and communication skills.
- The inspiration. One thing that all fathers undoubtedly do is open up new worlds to their children in which to feel competent and discover themselves. Many dads transmit their passions, their love for music, books, nature. All values ​​that define children even in adulthood.
In conclusion, remember that a good father is not an older child who enjoys playing and making his son laugh. The "real" dad is an adult with great emotional skills, self-confident, courageous and as concerned for the safety of his children as any mother, a guide for children who will one day spread their wings and fly as free, mature adults capable of giving and receiving happiness.
