Let’s raise a toast for all caring, loving and responsible dads

There is an old saying that "one father is more than a hundred school masters". This is true and is borne out by scientific research. Studies have found that infants with highly involved fathers, as measured by the amount of interaction, are more cognitively competent at six months and score higher on the Bayley scales of infant development, which are a standard series of measurements used to assess children aged 0 to 3. Researchers also found that such infants had a higher IQ by age three. Researchers have found that mothers and fathers speak to their toddlers in very different ways. A father’s talk is characterised by more questions, such as "what" and "where", which stimulates children and gets them to take over more responsibility for communication in that interaction and bestgift for dad.

The benefits of involving fathers in the care of their children are plenty. It is not just limited to the health and well-being of the children but reflects back on the whole family. As we can see from the research, families in which the fathers were involved in raising the children, report fewer accidental and premature deaths, less than average contact with the law, less substance abuse, fewer hospital admissions and a greater sense of well-being overall.As a young mother, I still remember my experience with my first child and the strong desire to prove to myself and everyone else that I was the perfect supermom. That struggle loaded my work and family life with mixed feelings of guilt and unnecessary stress and I lost out on the chance to enjoy and share responsibility for raising the child with my husband. It was only later that I understood the saying: it takes a village to raise a child. Studies have proved that a father’s early involvement in caring for children helps with marital stability and is even associated with marital satisfaction in midlife, making it more likely that the couple will still be happily married 10 or 20 years after the birth of their first child. This data provides the scientific evidence for us to seek greater involvement of fathers and more shared responsibility in raising young children.A father’s involvement in their child’s life can start as early as in the delivery room. Mothers should be wise enough to recognise that trusting the father with a young infant as early as day one is a strategic investment in the stability of the family and the mental health of the offspring.

I have seen my father as an extremely caring and loving father and this is why my father deserves all the bestgift for dad ever!