• Published by Salma Safira Sukma from BehaviorPALS Center 

Fathers hold an important role in the family and the life of their children. In today’s society, father’s roles have evolved from merely a family breadwinner to an equal co-parent who is more than capable of caring for their child through physical and psychological challenges. Research around fathers has also significantly increased as there has been much evidence supporting the positive influences of father’s involvement in the family. 

What does it mean by father’s involvement?

There are many ways to define a father's involvement,  both directly and indirectly, such as:

• Having active and direct interactions with their children in caretaking, play, and leisure activities.
• Being available and present for their children on various occasions.
• Being affectionate, warm, nurturing, encouraging, supportive, and accepting toward their children.
• Providing resources for their children’s developmental needs (providing income, making doctor’s appointments, participating in children support programs/therapy, etc.).

Furthermore, it is important to note that a father's involvement may change as their children grow older and experience different life stages. Many fathers might wonder how well they have engaged in their children’s life or whether their involvement is enough to nurture positive outcomes. However, research suggests that it is more important to care about the quality and type of activities that you do with your children rather than the amount of time that you spend with them. 

Positive Impacts of Father’s Involvement

For the child

Research found numerous benefits for children reared by involved fathers, including:

• Have better language ability and better school performances.
• More likely to graduate high school and attend college regardless of the father’s educational level.
• Develop positive behavior, social and emotional development.
• Have higher self-esteem, psychological well-being, and long term life satisfaction.
• Less likely to struggle with behavioral problems or substance abuse.

It is also found that even fathers who do not live in the same house with their children (non-residential fathers) but are involved in their children’s life can increase children’s social skills, mental health, and academic performance. Children who have involved nonresidential fathers also tend to engage in less behavioral problems.

For the father themselves 

Father involvement has also been found to be beneficial to the father themselves, such as:

• Feeling more self-confident and effective as parents as well as confident in other skills (job, social relationship).
• Finding parenthood more satisfying.
• Feeling more intrinsically important to their children and encouraged to be even more involved.
• Tend to have higher levels of psychosocial maturity.
• Less likely to be psychologically distressed.

In conclusion, it is clear that a father’s involvement can promote positive outcomes in their children as well as bringing benefits for themselves. There are many ways for a father to be involved, directly or indirectly, including by keeping a healthy relationship with the other parent even in cases of divorce. Fathers should not only provide material and financial assistance, but also give emotional support, appropriate supervision, and discipline for their children. Most importantly, fathers must be constantly present and loving in their children’s life. 

By: Salma Safira Sukma Ikhsani, S.Psi. dari BehaviorPALS Center

References:

American Psychological Association. (2009). The Changing Role of the Modern Day Father. https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/changing-father 

Anchell, K. S., Bruns, D. A., & Chitiyo, D. (2016). The importance of father involvement in early childhood programs. Young Exceptional Children, 20(10), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250615621355 

Dyer, W., McBride, B., Santos, R., & Jeans, L. (2009). A longitudinal examination of father involvement with children with developmental delays: Does timing of diagnosis matter? Journal of Early Intervention, 31, 265-281. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X09340386

Fogarty, K. & Evans, G. D. (2009). Being an involved father: What does it mean? University of Florida IFAS Extension. https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/IR/00/00/33/64/00001/HE14100.pdf 

Fogarty, K. & Evans, G. D. (2009). The hidden benefits of being an involved father.  University of Florida IFAS Extension. https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/download/118194/116139/ 

Goldman, R. (2005). Fathers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Education. London: National Family and Parenting Institute.

father, father's involvement, family, child development

Children 4 Years - 6 Years / 4 Tahun - 6 Tahun / Parenting / Pola Asuh / Family / Keluarga / The Importance of Father’s Involvement in a Child’s Life

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