UOW creates 10 week program to build relationships between fathers and children

Researchers and professional staff working within the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Early Start have noticed more and more fathers bringing their children along to the Discovery Space, prompting them to create a unique program that would acknowledge the importance of fathers and father-figures in children’s lives.

The Dad Space program will launch tomorrow, 25 October 2024, and will run weekly until mid-December, examining, exploring and celebrating the special impact that fathers and male caregivers have on children’s development while also helping fathers to build stronger connections within their families.

 

The 10-week program will provide fathers with the skills and confidence to improve their parenting, and is the work of Associate Professor Jane Herbert, Head of Community Partnerships and a researcher within the Interactions and Relationships research focus area of the Early Start Institute, PhD candidate Amy Hofmeier, and Early Start Education Partnership Coordinator Sally Robson and her team. 

 

Fathers, AP Herbert said, “play a critical role in their children’s development, yet this connection has not received the attention it deserves.”

 

“Studies have highlighted that those children who have engaged, warm fathers have fewer emotional and behavioural problems, are more self-confident and generous, and perform better academically,” she continued.

 

“But fathers and male caregivers often don’t get the same acknowledgment as mothers. While there are often ‘Mummy and me’ programs, and mothers are recognised socially as the default parent, there is little that celebrates the father’s role in the family structure, whatever that family structure looks like.”

 

“There is a lack of social support and resources to help men develop their skills and confidence in parenting,” Associate Professor Herbert added.

 

In addition to learning from experts in the field, participants can also meet other fathers to share their parenting experiences.

 

The Dad Space is a 10-week program with key topics that include:

 

• Building self-confidence in fathers and children

 

• Supporting children's social skills and emotion regulation

 

• Strengthening father-child bonds

 

• Creating everyday routines

 

• Encouraging reading and play

 

• Exploring numeracy and financial literacy

 

Ms Hofmeier, believes the Dad Space will highlight the importance of equity in parental relationships, something which is a core interest of hers, given her PhD work which focuses on the modern father’s role in early childhood social emotional development.

 

“Dads get a bad rap,” she said. 

 

“We hope the Dad Space program will demonstrate that fathers who are present, involved, and sensitive can have a positive influence on their children’s social emotional development.” 

 

“Our goal is to equip fathers with a toolbox of practical strategies they can use to nurture their child’s growth. When we support fathers, we support whole families.”

 

The Dad Space will run at the Early Start Discovery Space every Friday from 25 October to 13 December. Participation is free for Discovery Space members or included in the price of entry for non-members.

 

Image credit: Michael David Gray