Prior to the 1970’s, being a parent meant taking the place of a child’s mother. In fact, the word mother is synonymous with to look after, care for, and protect. Today, we know that men and women differ in their ways of relating to their child. The role of each parent is significant but research supports that a father’s role is not only essential but unique.
Research on fatherhood shows children who perform better in school and exhibit less behavior problems have involved nurturing fathers. This may be due to a father’s unique perspective on parenting. A father’s interaction with their child differs from their mother’s on everything from discipline to play. An everyday child rearing task can turn into a stimulating event because fathers tend to engage more physically with their children, especially when playing. However, fathers want their children to have good behavior and discipline them knowing they will not suffer as many consequences and will be more easily accepted by the outside world.
“Children raised by involved dads are thriving, healthy kids, and fathers do not mother any more than mothers father” says Dr. Kyle Pruett, a clinical professor of child psychiatry at Yale University’s Child Study Center. That is why The Goddard School® proactively builds a foundation of trust with parents to help them accomplish the difficult job of parenting. Several elements work simultaneously to develop the cooperative relationship Goddard strives to have with their families. The Goddard School® provides families with Goddard Parent Guides featuring Dr. Kyle Pruett’s advice on fathering, biting, and many more child development topics. These parents also receive the Goddard Parent, a quarterly publication with topical information. In addition, the parents receive a “Daily Activity Report” to establish ongoing communication about what happens each day with their child.
To find about more about The Goddard School of Cedar Park, visit their website or call 512-258-5292.
