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Fathers will have their special day on Sunday, and they deserve it because their significance at home is backed by science.
There are various reasons one needs a father figure in one's life. Growing up with a dad has advantages that affect one's behavior, attitude, and performance. Here are five reasons dads are a force at home and why their children need them.
1. Kids Are Less Likely To Be Criminals
According to Dr. Kyle Pruett, a child psychiatrist and clinical professor of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, children with absentee dads are three times more likely than those with fathers who are involved to wind up in the juvenile justice system before turning 18. When children observe both of their parents' methods of punishment, they develop a broad range of problem-solving abilities.
Mothers typically discipline their children through social and emotional consequences, according to Pruett. On the other hand, fathers concentrate on how their children fit into society, cautioning them that misbehavior could jeopardize their friendships or employment.
According to Pruett, the different viewpoints offer children a more comprehensive range of options to consider while debating problems.
2. Delayed Sexual Activities
According to Pruett, children whose fathers are actively involved are more likely to postpone having sex, which results in fewer incidences of teenage pregnancy. The rationale is that when fathers actively participate in their children's personal care, the youngsters feel appreciated and are less likely to seek love from other sources.
3. Better Performance in School
According to a 2016 article in Sex Roles, academic achievement is higher among American teenagers who have fathers who are encouraging because they are more upbeat and self-assured. Even men with less education and inadequate English proficiency experienced the same outcomes. Particularly, daughters did better in math. Boys fared better linguistically.
Research indicates that a father's influence on language can be profound. According to Pruett, one of the best indicators of a child's language proficiency is his father's vocabulary. He clarified that fathers typically do not alter their voice significantly when talking to children. Additionally, men are not likely to finish a child's sentence, which makes it more difficult for kids to communicate their needs to their fathers.
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4. Longer Job Tenures
People quit employment because they cannot adequately communicate their demands or solve challenges. According to Pruett, kids who have involved fathers are better at solving problems and handling frustration.
Professor of psychology at the University of Michigan Brenda Volling notes that men are more inclined to play "rough and tumble" with their kids, which may help them learn how to control their emotions.
5. Less Likely to Be Gender Stereotype
According to Pruett, children who both parents raise are less prone to adopt gender stereotypes and are more accepting of the various roles that men and women play in society.
"When you've been nurtured by man, you don't think it's only mothers who can nurture," Pruett said.
The same holds for empathy. Kids whose fathers are active in their lives are more accepting of others who are different.
Children who are actively involved witness their parents' successes and failures and ultimately forgive their parents for their mistakes. They also observe how differently men and women respond to these circumstances.
The world celebrates Father's Day on Sunday (June 16). The special holiday honors all fathers worldwide.
RELATED ARTICLE: Children With Overprotective Fathers, Little Autonomy Have Increased Risk of Dying Before 80 [Study]
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