Active Dads
Research has found that a good bond with both Mum and Dad, by the age of three years sets a child up for life.
Dad’s are great fun and often build positive self-esteem. Strong connections with a father figure can help tamariki (children) develop a sense of adventure and confidence in the world. Fathers encourage important connections with the outdoors and risky play.
Active Dad’s engaging through play encourages tamariki to become resilient and to problem solve. By being involved in rough and tumble play tamariki can learn boundaries and explore their own strength. This may also encourage tamariki to enter sports through the early development of gross motor skills. Through play, Dad’s also introduce problem solving and tricks into games. Through play active Dads can show how to manage aggressive, anger and frustration through well managed rule based rough play. Through the safe relationships established children learn to manage emotions and feelings and learn to express themselves and feel understood.
Dad’s encourage risk taking, build a child’s self-esteem and encourage them to explore their abilities, often praising and encouraging their tamariki.
Boys especially take notice of their Dads and observe their behaviours. They often model their own behaviours off their father. Therefore, it is important that tamariki see their Dad in a positive light. By setting clear boundaries and teaching tamariki to safely explore their emotions, tamariki learn to communicate their frustrations.
Sometimes work commitments make it hard when fathers work long hours and work schedules don’t allow quality time, which is where and why the FIRST 10 minutes when a father arrives home is the MOST important. When arriving home it is essentially important that the first 10 minutes after arriving home is spent engaged with their tamariki and actively listening about their day. Engage in conversation, ask them how their day was and engage in play. You will notice a difference by doing this simple action with your tamariki!
Dad’s play a very important role in raising their tamariki. It is through play that Dad’s teach their tamariki about the world around them, help them to make positive choices and scaffold their learning.
