Each relationship is unique, whether it’s a couple or father and child, and it’s fine to take an approach that works for you—as long as it also works for your spouse or child, and makes them feel loved and appreciated.
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:
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.
Father’s Day and the Privilege of Being a Dad
We all celebrated Mother’s Day a few weeks ago, and I hope you did it up right. Moms definitely deserve to be honored and celebrated. In many ways, Father’s Day is different. (And that’s okay.) Most dads aren’t expecting a whole lot in the way of gifts. We’re good...
4 Steps for Your New Year Fathering Action Plan
As the New Year arrives, it’s natural to think about turning over a new leaf. Bad habits to stop. Good habits to start. Resolutions to keep.
Engaging Kids in the Joy of Christmas
Do your children believe that Christmas is a joy-filled holiday? Do you? This time of year causes us to pause and reflect on our childhood—from the tinsel on the tree, shaking the colorful packages, maybe sledding or taking a drive to look at the lights, and the many...
4 Meaningful Gifts for Your Kids
Each December, we hear a lot about simplifying our holiday routine, and there’s something to be said for that. In some families, the tradition that seems to be the most dominant and lasting is feeling worn out, frustrated and fed up. Sarcasm abounds when it comes to...
3 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Be Thankful
The holidays can bring great times for fathers and their kids. And Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to teach our children—and model for them—what it means to be thankful. (Although it shouldn’t be just a once-a-year thing.) A researcher from the University of...
Contentment in the New Year
Dads, here’s hoping your New Year is “happy” ... and much more. As we start this new year, here's a thought from one of our long-time friends at NCF, Mick Trombley from Pennsylvania. He writes about the phrase that’s so common during these next few days: “Happy New...
Five Christmas Traditions
The holiday season is a time to build lifelong memories with your family. Traditions also help you bond and reconnect with loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Creating traditions takes just a little time and energy to plan. We’ve put together a...
We “Skipped” Christmas
by Eric Snow It was the fall of 1999. Earlier in the year my career had taken us to a new town 125 miles away from our nearest family. Valerie and I were adjusting to new jobs, and our 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were making new friends and beginning to...
Maybe Do LESS Good this Holiday Season?
In December, more people are looking for ways to give and bless others. And that’s a good thing. We can be inspired when we see others helping people. But one dad says his family is almost overwhelmed right now because of all the requests to donate money, supplies,...
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.
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...
Effective Fathering for a New Generation
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. Recently, someone reminded me that it’s been 30 years since the publication of my book, The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers. 30 years! A lot has happened with that book since 1992, including dozens of weekend 7 Secrets events in cities all over...
Dads and Fast-Food Modeling
Are you a fast-food dad? A few years back, we ran across an unusual way of looking at a father’s influence and the importance of setting a positive example ... and it has to do with food! Here’s a statistic that probably won’t surprise you: In 1974, out of all the...
“Dad, I Wish We Could Talk About ________”
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. What topics do teenagers want to talk about with their dads? A few years back, we asked that question to a group of teenage daughters at one of our father-daughter events. (I try to never miss an opportunity to capture a few more insights and...
Involved Fathering … or Connected Fathering?
Here at NCF, we often talk about involved fathering. Dads need to be engaged in their kids’ lives. Involvement is the "I" in the I-CANs of Fathering, the four key fundamentals dads put into practice. And it’s no surprise that research shows a strong link between a...
Let the Selfies Begin: Creative Summer Fun for Dads & Kids
by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield The past few years have been intense, as we all know. Not only have we been struck with a pandemic and political and social unrest, but it seems like shootings in schools and stores and other places are continually on the rise. If...