Benefits of an Involved Father

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Most people can agree that being an involved father has several benefits to children. Here are some supported by research:

• Babies as young as 3 months old can tell the difference between mother and father. They can tell by the way their parents hold them, talk to them, and the way that they smell.
• Children whose fathers are involved raising them score higher on cognitive tests than those whose fathers are not involved in their lives.
• Fathers who are involved in the children's lives increase the chances that those children will graduate from high school, perhaps go to college and vocational school.
• Fathers who are more involved in raising their children, tend to have children who experience successful careers.
• Father involvement is related to lower rates of teenage violence, delinquency, and other problems with the law.
• Involved fathers provide excellent role models for positive parenting, healthy caregiving, and a commitment to the family.