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ERIC Number: EJ898709
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-May
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1538-6619
EISSN: N/A
Boot Camp for New Dads: The Importance of Infant-Father Attachment
Capuozzo, Robert M.; Sheppard, Bruce S.; Uba, Gregory
Young Children, v65 n3 p24-28 May 2010
Early childhood professionals know that good fathering has a profound impact on children. Research confirms that when fathers are involved in the lives of their children, positive outcomes can be expected; when fathers are not involved in their children's lives, more negative outcomes can be seen. Fathers can play an integral role as attachment figures in the lives of young children. How men perceive their role is crucial in good parenting. Positive perceptions of fathering are consistently and significantly associated with caregiving activities, paternal warmth, nurturing activities, physical care, and cognitively stimulating activities, such as singing, reading, or telling stories to their child. Men who identify with the father role and view being a dad as important tend to be more invested and actively engaged with their children than are men who do not strongly identify themselves as fathers. This article discusses Boot Camp for New Dads, a program for expectant fathers, which instills confidence and pride in being a father. Men learn how to make the home safe and secure for the newborn, support their partners before and after birth, and prepare to bond with the baby. Survey results show Boot Camp for New Dads is effective. Follow-ups indicate that fathers who completed the program overwhelmingly feel that the class had a positive impact on how they bonded with their babies. By applying the research showing that father involvement is important for children's healthy development, the program nurtures dads-to-be in their quest to give their children the best start in life. (Contains 12 online resources.)
National Association for the Education of Young Children. 1313 L Street NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 22205-4101. Tel: 800-424-2460; Tel: 202-232-8777; Fax: 202-328-2649; e-mail: editorial@naeyc.org; Web site: http://journal.naeyc.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A