Fatherhood
Father's Day is a great time to let your dad know you haven't forgotten him. They're sand castle crafters, wrestlers, fort builders, story readers and monster slayers! Until we have kids of our own, we don't really understand how much time, effort, love and money our Dads put into raising us.
Dads that are involved with their children provide practical support in raising them and serve as models for their development. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, are empathetic and socially aware.
*A father is defined as an involved father if his relationship with his child can be described as being sensitive, warm, close, friendly, supportive, intimate, nurturing, affectionate, encouraging, comforting, and accepting.
Men who are involved fathers feel more self confident and effective as parents, despite sometimes being bull dozed out of the way by overprotective Mothers! They are also reported to find parenting more satisfying and have the added benefit of having a child who has developed a strong, secure attachment to them.
Fathers don’t always need to go to lengths such as building a two storey tree house to be “involved” with their children! Being involved in everyday activities such as bathing, preparing meals, feeding and reading to their children are all fantastic ways of interacting and building secure, trusting and loving relationships with their children, not to mention helping create a harmonious household.
Say I love you to your Dad this Fathers Day – 5 September 2010!
*The Effects of Father Involvement:
An Updated Research Summary of the Evidence Inventory © Centre for Families, Work & Well-Being, University of Guelph 2007
www.fira.uoguelph.ca
Family Fun on Father’s Day
A fun way for the family to spend some time together at home is a Family Movie Night!
Make it official. Set a movie start time and stick to it. Switch off phones and start the movie at 7 pm, after a no-hassle dinner of spag bol or homemade Lebanese Bread Pizzas.
Have fun with it. Ask the kids to make tickets with seat numbers and sell them at a “box office” (a large cardboard box that’s cut out and decorated to look like a real box office). They can even “usher” parents to their seats, using a small flashlight like in the old days.
Get the kids to help you get together some movie snacks. You can’t have a cinema without popcorn!
Set the scene. A darkened room and plenty of comfy seats are a must. Make sure the room is clean and all toys are away in toy boxes. Bean bag chairs and large pillows on the floor are great movie seats.
Schedule an intermission. Give family members a chance to take a potty break or hit the “concession stand” (a.k.a. the fridge or pantry).
Here are some Movie ideas to help
- Mrs Doubtfire
- The pursuit of happiness
- Big Daddy
- Vegas Vacation
- Toy Story and Toy Story 2 (G)
- Ice Age (PG)
- Shrek and Shrek 2 (PG)
- Star Wars/The Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi (PG)
- Back to the Future (PG)
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (PG)
Whatever movie you choose, family movie nights are a wonderful tradition that your kids will remember long into adulthood. You're not only spending fun, quality time with them, but also creating a bonding and learning experience for everyone. Now dim those lights and let the show begin!
