Search for the word ‘Parenthood’ on the internet and you’ll find that the top stories & articles are all about motherhood & mother-child relationships. Search for the phrase ‘moms with babies’, and you’ll find images of babies being cuddled by their moms. Search for ‘dad with babies’, and you get ‘10 funny images that show why babies shouldn’t be left with Dads’. See the trend?
Now don’t you go off on the wrong track, thinking we’re calling the Internet a sexist place (we’re not). But what we do want to imply is how underrated the role of a father has become in a baby’s upbringing.
The Science Doesn’t Lie
Dads are in fact the pillar supporting a strong mother-child relationship as they devote themselves to activities that make the mother’s life easier. From washing dishes to shopping for diapers & baby food, they extend all the help they possibly can to give mommy the time to bond with the baby. But it also means that dads often end up spending less time with their babies, leaving the mother to take on the role of the alpha parent in the emotional parent-child relationship.
According to research at London’s prestigious Imperial College, father-child interactions are actually essential to a child’s development. Paul Ramchandani, who co-wrote the research explains, “Father-child interactions as early as for three-months old infants leads to positive cognitive development, almost two years later.”
How Exactly Do Dads Make An Impact?
For starters, playtime with dads was found to be more stimulating & vigorous. This encourages children to take more risks, be adventurous, and explore.
Men also use more complex terms when interacting with babies, which helps broaden the child’s vocabulary. Dads also have a habit of associating personal incidents while narrating stories, helping children grasp the concept of colours & objects much faster. No wonder we all grew up with our dads as our favourite storytellers!
However, being a father is not the only requisite here. There is more to the father-child relationship than just spending quality time. Psychometric tests found that children with more responsive & less controlling fathers did better. Dr. Vaheshta Sethna, another researcher says, “We found that children who interact with sensitive, calm and less anxious fathers at the age of two showed better cognitive development including attention, problem-solving, language, and social skills”. Something like speaking in a positive tone can go a long way in shaping a child’s mind. Fathers who use less or non-verbal communication with their infants reduce the infant’s social learning experience. Sounds like nothing less than a 24/7 job!
But don’t get overwhelmed. Being a father might sound like a weary responsibility, but for most it’s an absolute joy! For a dad is more than just about having XY chromosomes. It’s about being a person that a child looks up to. A person whom a child can idolize. A person whom a child can call his hero. And to be that person, a little extra effort can bloom into a rewarding & enjoyable relationship in the future.
