Introduction
In the recent years, scholars have been releasing research results that show the deep and positive impact a father’s involvement has on his child. The perception had been that the father’s role is to mainly provide financially for the family (Nord, 1998). The mother is the one who will mostly take care of the school commitments. In most families with two parents, the father only attends only the class events or the general meetings at the school. In the future though, more will be expected from the fathers.
Impact of father’s involvement in Child’s Academic Life
Research has shown that the infants who play and interact more with their fathers have higher cognitive abilities than their peers at six months. As they get older, they are better at problem solving at the age of one year. By age three they have higher IQs. The father’s conversation with his baby requires them to think more and use diverse language in explaining themselves. This is attributed to the fact that father’s usually phrase where, when and what questions. The father’s language is different from the mother’s speech.
The impact of the father’s involvement is even more pronounced in the academic setting. These children are more likely to get A grades and have higher quantitative and verbal skills. When it comes to standardized assessments tests, they are more likely to perform better. The father’s influence also helps them to have positive attitudes towards school. They even get to the point where they can say they are enjoying going to school (Allen & Daly, 2007).
The teenagers value their education and care about the grades they will get in school. They are motivated to perform well in school. The firm influence of the father also helps in ensuring that the child has minimal if any behavioural problems in school. These children are less likely to be found bullying others or cheating in exams. They are therefore less likely to be suspended or expelled from school. The teenagers get to learn without any interruption in school.
The great academic background in their life assists them to get even higher educational achievements in life. They are motivated to do even more. Research has shown that these children end up having great career growth and economic well-being.
The great performance is school is also tied to the father’s influence on the child’s social and psychological status. Great performance in school requires the child to be highly confident. The children feel very secure and have a great sense of identity. They display higher levels of social competence. Research has shown that such adults have higher levels of life satisfaction and have lesser incidences of depression, emotional distress and negative emotions such as fear and guilt. The paternal acceptance and involvement gives them higher levels of psychological adjustment. The father’s play time with his child makes him have a mind that love to explore and tackle tough situations. The nature of the play time between the fathers and their children is different from the games the mother and the child can play. They can handle strange environments and situations. It actually makes them very creative and innovative from an early age.
Conclusion
The influence of father’s involvement can therefore be seen throughout the child’s academic life. Where the children come from single homes, a close male who acts as a positive father figure also gives the effects that the fathers do. A step father who is close and plays a positive role in the child’s life also plays the same important roles as the fathers. The nature of the interaction between the parents and children will determine whether there will be a positive or adverse effect on the child (Hamner & Turner, 2001)
References
Allen, S & Daly, K (2007). Effects of Father’s Involvement: An Updated
Research Summary of the Evidence. Retrieved from: http://www.fira.ca/cms/documents/29/Effects_of_Father_Involvement.pdf
Hamner, T. & Turner, P. (2001) Parenting in contemporary society (4th ed.). Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
Nord, C (1998). Father’s Involvement in Schools. Retrieved from:
http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED419632.pdf
