Much of the support for families in general, and fathers in particular, today focuses on early intervention programmes such as Flying Start.
As a young child’s brain develops there are windows of opportunity during which the ability to process certain information, be it vision, sound or language can be acquired. When this window is missed the child’s ability to learn can be severely hampered. Fathers therefore can play a vital role in ensuring that such opportunities are not lost. This is especially true in the modern world where both parents are often working and time is at a premium. The idea of playing with young children is something which the vast majority of men see as non-threatening to their sense of masculinity. From the child’s perspective play is an opportunity to learn a whole set of skills they will need in later life.
Children in Wales was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to produce guidelines for this work Including Fathers in Early years Services.
Fathers and their Children’s Education
There is a wealth of evidence which supports the view that positive father involvement can act as a predictor for better educational attainment by children and young people:
Fatherhood Institute Research Summary: Fathers and their Children's Education
National Literacy Trust: Why Fathers Matter to Their Children's Literacy
Flyingng Start Fatherhood Guidance: A Literature Review, Children in Wales, January 2008