According to new research results, father’s love is critical for children growth , their satisfaction with life, and their self-acceptance
One of the consequences of corona virus pandemic is that fathers spent more time with children during 2020 and 2021 years.
The influence of that on children well-being is not yet clear and more research is needed to clarify the impact, but we can see some clues down the road.
Self-esteem
Riley Marshall at Southern Illinois University suggests in a recent study that fathers have a unique role in the development of confidence, self-image, and self-respect in their children.
The study was performed on 600 adult twin pairs in USA, approximately half identical half fraternal.
The study suggests that fathers’ love to their kids has important impact on their self-worth.
The study found that dads’ affection was important for children sense of self-esteem later in their lives.
The study found that the identical twins in the pairs who perceived more love and affection from their dads tended to have higher self-esteem than others.
The study also found that this is not the case with mothers.
“Mothers may be more likely to perform appropriate amounts of caregiving for all children,” explains the study researchers. “Even if children experienced, or remember experiencing, different levels of maternal affection, they still may feel that they were cared for appropriately, and, therefore, differences in it may not be expected to lead to differences in twins’ self-esteem.”
The difference fathers’ love has on self-regard could be due to differences in primary interactions according to researchers, for example fathers may interact by play more frequently than by caregiving.
A similar 2011 study suggests that early relationships between father and child is important for social and emotional wellbeing later in life.
Play
Fathers’ affection can be presented in many ways, including play.
Research found out that fathers usually involve physically in play with their children, with tickling, chasing, contact, and wrestling. It was found that children tend to have better self-regulation when they have more father-child physical play, toy play , and active play like playing outside.
But if fathers are more intrusive and controlling according to these studies, children tend to have poorer self-regulation. And this suggests that the play should child-led, warm and more for fun.
Fathers’ love can show in different ways due to cultural differences.
It can be shown through paying attention and satisfying child needs. Or can be shown physically through hugs and kisses, or verbally by saying I love you.
So, it can have many forms.
What matters for you as a father is to find your way. It could be playing football with your kid/s outside or covering your child with a blanket to warm her/him or preparing a meal together.
According to studies, your kid will remember these moments for the rest of his/her life, and they will help him/her grow and thrive.
References:
Wellbeing Arena 