• Home
  • First Steps Bulletins
    • For Boys
    • For Girls
    • Unang Mga Tikang
  • Steps on the Way
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
  • Parent Tips
  • Resources
    • Teaching
      • Teach to Read
      • Teach Handwriting
      • Math Concepts
      • Teach Spiritual Life
    • Kid Friendly Recipes
    • Special Needs
      • Cerebral Palsy
      • Autism
      • Learning Differences
      • AD(H)D
    • When to Call the Doctor
    • Book Reviews
    • Interesting Information
  • Links
  • About
    • Copyright Statement
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Your Child's Journey

wisdom for the big steps little children take

You are here: Home / Archives for bonding

How Important is Dad?

July 4, 2012 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

In June 2012, two studies involving dads and their children were published in scientific journals. The first study was done at the University of Connecticut over several decades. The second one was done by Brigham Young University on the effects of parenting style of dads on their children.

In the first study they found that kids who feel rejected by their fathers show higher rates of behavioral problems than those who feel rejected by their mothers. These children show much higher rates of delinquency, depression, and substance abuse.

Moms may reject their child because they had not wanted to be pregnant, poor bonding soon after delivery, or other problems that drive her away from home. Of course, we expect those children to be seriously affected by her rejection.

But this study showed that if a child feels rejected by their father, the consequences are much more serious. Dads are vital to a child’s well-being. Dads may never have bonded with the child and therefore are more aloof. They may just be so busy or have to be away so much that they don’t know how to respond to the child when they are home and the child feels rejected. Or the child may not be what dad expected and so he rejects the child. His son may show more interest in music and arts or cooking and he wanted a child who loved the outdoors and would go trekking or hunting with him. But no matter what the cause, the effect can be devastating on the child.

In the Brigham Young study children responded much more strongly to the parenting style of the father than of the mother. The father’s style effected the child’s persistence much more than the mother’s style.

If the father showed love and warmth to his kids, held them responsible to obey the rules, explained why the rules exist, and gave them age-appropriate freedom; the children thrived. These children were much more persistent in their school work and had much lower incidents of delinquency. In other words, these were involved dads and they had good kids.

Another amazing fact that came out of this study was that it didn’t matter if the father figure in the home was the biological father or not. What mattered was his involvement and warmth with the children in the home.

So yet again, we see the importance of keeping dad involved with your children. Do everything you can to provide him time with the children when he is able to give them undivided attention. Keep him up-dated on your child’s development. Discuss any concerns you have together and agree on ways to handle those problems. Never put your husband down in front of the kids, but support him in his parenting role.


Some other articles about Dad that you might find important:

  • Moms and Dads Together during pregnancy.
  • When you have a newborn, Daddy needs time to bond with your baby. (See  Bonding and Brain Chemicals )
  • At around 18 months little boys realize they are more like dad than mom. They begin to shift their interest and allegiance to dad. They want to do everything dad does and they crave his attention. This is normal and vital to later healthy gender development. (See: ‘Healthy Gender Development‘)
  • Dads and Their Daughters
  • Moms and Dads Play Differently – Kids need both kinds of play!

Filed Under: All Ages, The Child-Ready Marriage Tagged With: bonding, daddy, gender development

Bonding and Brain Chemicals

August 12, 2010 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

Some time ago I read a book called, The Brain that Changes Itself. It introduced me to the idea that our brains are able to change and adapt. Much of that change occurs because of chemicals that act on the brain. Then, recently, I read an article that talked about the chemicals in the brain that make bonding with our baby, both possible and pleasurable. We turn from rather self-centered individuals into people who would sacrifice everything for a wrinkled, red, almost alien-looking bundle. So I’ve been doing more research. In this article, I want to share some of the major lessons I’ve learned.

The key to bonding with our baby is a mysterious process that causes us to enjoy one another. Moms and dads fall in love with their own baby and each baby falls in love with its own mom and dad. As long as we don’t interfere with the process, it will happen flawlessly and rather magically. An intricate dance begins even before birth, continues through the birth process, to feeding, cuddling, and playing with the baby. Touch and smell, sight and hearing all play a role, but the biggest role is played by some powerful chemicals rearranging our brains.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Newborn Tagged With: bonding

Healthy Gender Development

March 6, 2010 By Diane Constantine

There is growing concern among parents about raising our children with strong gender identification in a world where homosexuality on the increase. These are a few resources on the major issues having to do with gender development and the contributing factors in homosexuality. More articles will be written on this topic in the future.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: All Ages Tagged With: bonding, gender development, homosexuality

1 Month Boy

August 11, 2009 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

Key Thought

This is a time of beginnings. Your baby is beginning to be aware of what is around. The human face and his own hands and feet fascinate your baby. The first ooohs and ahhs of speech and the first smiles may happen during this month. Enjoy watching for the first time your baby does different things. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Month-by-Month Boy Tagged With: bonding, pacifier, post-partum depression, thumb sucking

1 Month Girl

August 11, 2009 By Diane Constantine Leave a Comment

Key Thought

This is a time of beginnings. Your baby is beginning to be aware of what is around. The human face and her own hands and feet fascinate your baby. The first ooohs and ahhs of speech and the first smiles may happen during this month. Enjoy watching for the first time your baby does different things. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Month-by-Month Girl Tagged With: bonding, pacifier, post-partum depression, thumb sucking

search Site

Contact Me

Please ask questions or make comments by emailing me at: Diane

Topics

attitudes autism baby signing bi-lingual bonding breast-feeding breast pump character chores communication dad daddy development developmental delay discipline eating feeding food intolerance games hearing humor illness immunizations independence learning lies listening meltdown pacifier parenting play post-partum depression potty training preschool reading safety self esteem separation anxiety sleep stammering tantrums temperament time toys tummy time

My Sites

  • Diane's Blog My art and my blog and a window on my world
  • Facebook – Parent Tips Parenting Tips for babies and children.
  • Intermin My husband’s site for marriage, parenting, and choosing a life partner.
  • Peter's Wife My site for women living and working cross culturally
  • Pinterest Boards My boards with great links to subjects of interest

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in