Involvement

Time Together is the Best Thing

Time Together is the Best Thing

Colin is 11 and he loves tennis. Not long ago, his grandparents were visiting, and Colin asked if they could watch him play. So Colin and his dad, Brian, got their racquets and took grandma and grandpa to the high school courts. They all had a great time.

The Most Important Hour in Your Home?

The Most Important Hour in Your Home?

For many years, research has been telling us that kids do better when their family has dinner together. Teenagers are less likely to use drugs and alcohol and less likely to have high stress. Kids of all ages do better in school, especially reading.

5 Things Your Children Want to Know

5 Things Your Children Want to Know

We often encourage dads to make the most of every opportunity you have with your children, because your time with them is fleeting. Recently, we heard about one dad who came up with a great way to be purposeful about the time he has left with his three teenagers at home.

Is my child ahead … or behind?

Is my child ahead … or behind?

How well do you know your child's developmental needs? A study at the University of Rochester discovered that about one-third (31.2%) of parents of 9-month-olds are "clueless" about child development milestones, such as when babies talk, learn right from wrong, or can be potty trained. Some moms and dads have unrealistic expectations for their children’s physical, social or emotional growth, and become frustrated. Others underestimate those abilities and prevent them from learning on their own.

Discipline Lessons from a Speeding Ticket

Discipline Lessons from a Speeding Ticket

People attending our events have requested more practical information on discipline, and we know all dads (and moms) will benefit from the practical ideas presented by Dr. Bob Barnes. He teaches that children learn best from experiencing the natural consequences of their actions, and it's pointless for parents to get caught up in power struggles with their kids.

Great Fathers Make Good Neighbors

Great Fathers Make Good Neighbors

The teen years can be the best of times and the worst of times. At no other time in your child's life can things be more trying. One common mistake made by loving parents is that they don't give teens enough responsibility soon enough. Too often parents don't trust the values they have instilled over the years, so they attempt to force values on their children in adolescence, and the children rebel.

Prepare To Fight Fair

Prepare To Fight Fair

The Williams family was at it again. Mom accused Dad of being rude to her that morning, and Dad denied it. His memory, he claimed, was much more accurate than hers. Mom said he was crazy—if he couldn't even remember to put up the toilet seat, how could he claim to remember the fight?! Dad exploded in anger, and mom said he was acting just like his father. Dad yelled that she was stupid and overweight.

Shaping Your Future Worker

Shaping Your Future Worker

Dad, don't you wonder—and worry—about your child's future career path? If your kids are like mine, people started characterizing them from an early age: "Wow, she has long fingers. She'll be a great piano player some day." Or, "He loves to push buttons and figure out how things work. I bet he'll grow up to be an engineer."

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On the left you will see how our blogs and articles are categorized. Choose your stage in the fathering journey under Your Kids, click on a specific situation that applies to you, or browse through the items in our hot topics and fathering fundamentals. Also, check out Tools for the Journey – short downloadable pieces with tips for specific challenges.
Give Yourself for Christmas

Give Yourself for Christmas

Dad, do you want to know one the best gifts you can give your kids for Christmas—beyond the presents you wrap and place under the tree? Since the material gifts are likely already purchased and wrapped, let's talk a bit about a truly lasting gift you can give your...

Where Are You as a Father?

Where Are You as a Father?

by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. For many decades, we men had a bad reputation when it came to navigating the world. We wouldn’t stop and ask for directions. Maybe we thought, Hey, I’m a guy and I know where I’m going and how to get there. Or at least I should. Sometimes this...

Teens: Make the Most of Opportunities

Teens: Make the Most of Opportunities

Be ready, dad. When chances come to spend time with your teenager, don’t miss ‘em. Roy had a thirteen-year-old son named Sam. As you might expect with a father of a teen, satisfying connection times were hit-and-miss, and often it was "miss." Both of them were busy...

How to Bond with Your Baby

How to Bond with Your Baby

When Gary first held his son, it was awkward. The child cried and he didn’t know what to do. It was obvious that his wife already felt a deep affection for this new member of the family. But Gary didn’t know what to say, and there was no rush of emotion, no glow in...

Dad, do you shirk discipline?

Dad, do you shirk discipline?

A few years back, a research study on parental discipline emerged from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, and here's the big headline for fathers: Dads are largely shirking discipline duties. "When it comes to disciplining the kids, there's been a role...

5 Ways to Make a Difference for Your Son

5 Ways to Make a Difference for Your Son

According to recent research, boys in our country are "fragile." And this isn't a new idea. Similar things have been written for almost the past 30 years. When compared to girls, boys generally show much higher tendencies to struggle with issues such as: learning...

Single Fathers: Press On

Single Fathers: Press On

by Matt Haviland Is it possible to be a great father as a single dad? The short answer is, “Absolutely!” However, since being a single parent brings a variety of outside factors and dynamics, we may have to take a slightly different approach. It will surely look...

4 Qualities of Growing Dads

4 Qualities of Growing Dads

Howard, who grew up without a dad, became a father in his teens and has struggled for years with the demands of raising five children, especially since he never had a male role model. Working two jobs, he was always too tired for his kids and made excuses instead of...