A more modern version of the “Prodigal Son” that depicts the depth of a father’s love, featuring the song “Runaway” by Jess Ray.
Video: 3 Challenges for Dads for 2020
Did you make fathering resolutions earlier this month? Consider these three suggestions from our long-time friend, Rick Wertz:
Don’t Hold Back Affirmations
Think about your kids and focus on the positive—times when you feel love, pride, admiration, or maybe awe at the blessing of being a dad. The big question is, Do your kids know how you feel?
3 Ways Fathers Instill Hope
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. It’s one of the most necessary preventive qualities that a father can instill in his children—giving them security, peace, confidence, and many other qualities you surely want them to have. It requires your steadfast focus and asks you to...
Older Dads: Stay Plugged In
Younger dads, please don’t ignore this blog. I’m writing to more experienced dads, but I hope you’ll stay with us and maybe catch a glimpse of your future. We know the tendency for many seasoned dads is to tune us out. They feel like their fathering role is slowing...
2 Ways Dads Represent God to Their Children
This week we’re featuring Percy Kennedy and his insights from our recent fathering radio special. Percy is a man of faith and he uses faith to influence and help these desperate dads. In this short clip he challeges all dads with a description of some spiritual...
4 Ways to Ring in Your New Year of Fathering
Think of Father’s Day as a milestone, the start of a new year in your fathering, when you end one season and begin another.
An Open Letter to Dads on Father’s Day
by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield: You’re at your best when you’re taking action while showing that you have what it takes to courageously go after the things—and people—you love and believe in.
Great and Unexpected Things
Shakespeare wrote, “It is a wise father who knows his own child.” Knowledge of the gifts, talents, hopes and dreams of your child is the first step …
Kids’ Essays Show the Power of Father Figures
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. Every Father’s Day I get reflective about the state of fatherhood in our nation—where we’ve been and where we’re going. First, my attention goes to all the children who are fatherless; we are acutely aware of the impact of fatherlessness. Its...
3 Reasons to Honor Moms
Mother’s Day is something we should all throw ourselves into, because moms deserve it—and it’s good for us and for our kids.
Want to be a better dad? Do THIS…
What’s the biblical foundation for a Christian household? The third chapter of Colossians contains some pointed direction for Christian families: “Wives, submit to your husbands ... Husbands, love your wives ... Children, obey your parents.” We'd encourage you to read...
Categories
Welcome to the fathers.com fathering library.
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.
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...
Treat Your Daughter Like Royalty
Insights Straight from Girls by Michelle Watson Canfield, PhD, LPC Dads, I'm here to give you an all-access pass behind the curtain of a girl’s heart from the vantage point of a few courageous girls who shared their thoughts. Romance and royalty. I wonder what it is...
Laugh with Them. Cry with Them.
by Jay Payleitner Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. - Romans 12:15 When our kids come to us with emotional news, why do we often reflect the opposite emotion back to them? I will never forget a brief conversation I had with my dad my...
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
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
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...
The Best Things to Say When Kids Are Competing
What’s the best way to handle ourselves at our kids’ sports events? Brad was frustrated by his son’s baseball schedule. After spring sign-ups, the family was notified the team would be starting “spring training” right away, and those pre-season skill-building sessions...
“Why is my father always angry?”
There’s a powerful fathering insight that some of us need to hear and take to heart, and it comes from our online search data. Quite a few people come to fathers.com using search terms like: “how do I deal with my angry dad”“why is my father always yelling at...
The Paradox of “No Guarantees”
As dads, there’s a truth we need to embrace—and the earlier in the fatherhood journey that we do it, the better: Our kids don’t come with guarantees. Some of the most powerful examples of this are found in the tragic episodes of violence that crop up in news feeds all...
Meeting Your Children’s Basic but Important Needs
For quite a few years, our staff at NCF had the privilege of interviewing dads as part of essay contests and Father’s Day celebrations around the country. Those interviews brought out the unique and often inspiring ways each man expressed his commitment to his...
A New School Year: 3 Tips for Dads
Your children just started school or are about to go back, and that should be a big deal in your mind—whether they’re starting kindergarten or the last year of graduate school. They will mature and be shaped in incredible ways during coming months, and of course you...
Intentional, Joy-Filled Fathering
When someone announces, “I’m going to be a dad!” it’s a reason to celebrate. When one father made that announcement, his wife quickly followed with a report on his recent surge of activity at home. Apparently his joy and anticipation inspired him to rearrange their...