Traditionally, the father has primarily been a breadwinner: he works hard at his job to financially support his family. He is also a hero to his children, and a model of masculinity to his boys. By the end of the twentieth century the scope of fatherhood had expanded to include involvement. The “involved father” is […]
Category Archives: Inspiring Dads Articles
Glean from a treasure trove of fathering tips from Centre for Fathering’s expert community! These have been designed as simple reflective practices that will guide you to being a better dad, and increase the wellbeing of your children and family.
11
Feb
Feb
When we become parents, we bring with us issues from our own past that influence the way we parent our children. Experiences that are not fully processed may create unresolved and leftover issues that influence how we react to our children. These issues can easily get triggered in the parent-child relationship. When this happens our […]
22
Jan
Jan
For years, husbands have been stuck with the mantra “happy wife, happy life” because nothing rhymes with husband. The closest anyone has ever come was “happy husband, stuff gets done.” Some have suggested to replace the old, tired, gendered “happy wife, happy life” mantra with the much more postmodern “happy spouse, happy house.” No doubt, […]
Inspiring Dads Articles, Journeying with Mums Articles
Why the “Carrot and Stick” Style of Parenting Does Not Work
05
Jan
Jan
A mother decides to go to the mall with her two-year old toddler. As they walk around the mall, they spot a toy store. Inside the toy store, the toddler spots an item and begins to nag the mother to purchase it. The mother says no. The toddler begins to cry and scream. Still, the […]
05
Jan
Jan
Time outs continue to be a powerful and effective means of motivating children’s compliance through about age 11 or 12. The point of the time-out is to give a child the time and space they need to calm themselves down, regain the ability to think clearly, and then come back to the situation and make […]
29
Dec
Dec
“Blood is thicker than water” is a 15th Century proverb that implies that family relationships are always more important that friends. It was a social norm and everyone understood that, “If you ever need help, don’t ask your friends. Come home and ask us, your family. Blood runs thicker than water.”[1] But does this proverb […]
Inspiring Dads Articles, Journeying with Mums Articles
6Cs to Consider When Buying a Tech Toy for Your Child
14
Dec
Dec
Think back to the time you played at a playground. There were many different colours and shapes to stimulate your mind. The wide open spaces compelled you to run around and explore. There were ropes to climb and tunnels to crawl through, to test and train your strength and agility. You were probably not alone […]
10
Dec
Dec
It has been said that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Does it only mean that Jack is bored if he does not get to play, or much more? The eminent play scholar, Joe Frost, in his compelling book, “A History of Childhood Play and Play Environments” (1) tellingly shows that […]
09
Dec
Dec
In The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, Dr. John Gottman lists the six things that predict divorce. This ability to predict divorce is based in part on his analysis of 124 newlywed couples (married less than 6 months) who were observed at the “Love Lab” apartment at the University of Washington. The study involved […]
Inspiring Dads Articles, Journeying with Mums Articles
Book Review: Achieving Success Without Failing Your Family by Dr Paul Faulkner
04
Dec
Dec
Timeless Tips for Today’s FamiliesA noted speaker, writer, and professor of marriage and family therapy, Dr Paul Faulkner interviewed 30 sets of parents to discover how they raised vibrant families while achieving success at work. At the same time, he researched what makes families strong. This book, Achieving Success Without Failing Your Family–How 30 successful families […]