Why to Dad?
Although both relationship with parents are key to the development of a child/youth, numerous studies, statistics and research has shown that the absence or lack of a father as a role model is the prime factor behind children at risk of emotional and behavioural problems that lead to crime, imprisonment, drug and substance abuse, gang membership, abuse, teenage pregnancy and sexual promiscuity, mental health problems and even obesity.
For every campaign, there is a specific target. This campaign has therefore chosen to focus on Dads first as they are the cornerstone of the family unit. In future campaigns and initiatives, developed from Youths, they will possibly seek to focus on mothers and other issues.
For decades, psychologists and other researchers assumed that the mother-child bond was the most important one in a kid's life. They focused on studying those relationships, and however a child turned out, mom often got the credit — or blame.
Within the last several decades, though, there is increasing evidence of just how much dads matter and their parenting style affects their kids just as much, and sometimes more, than mom's. "We're now finding that not only are fathers influential, sometimes they have more influence on kids' development than moms," said Ronald Rohner, the director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut.
For eg. In UK, 8 billion pounds was spent last year on social services for youth and children, much more than a few years ago. However social problems among youths only increased. It is now strongly advocated that the root cause of the increasing social problems among young people is ultimately the result of a lack of fathering and no amount of spending or effort on social services will remedy the situation unless the root issue of fatherhood is addressed and the family unit strengthened.
Therefore, based on the extensive research and our personal experiences, we believe that for maximum positive social impact, time, effort and resources should be channeled to initiatives that build families and help fathers to connect with their young and eventually become role models or heroes whom their young can look up to and relate to.
For every campaign, there is a specific target. This campaign has therefore chosen to focus on Dads first as they are the cornerstone of the family unit. In future campaigns and initiatives, developed from Youths, they will possibly seek to focus on mothers and other issues.
For decades, psychologists and other researchers assumed that the mother-child bond was the most important one in a kid's life. They focused on studying those relationships, and however a child turned out, mom often got the credit — or blame.
Within the last several decades, though, there is increasing evidence of just how much dads matter and their parenting style affects their kids just as much, and sometimes more, than mom's. "We're now finding that not only are fathers influential, sometimes they have more influence on kids' development than moms," said Ronald Rohner, the director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut.
For eg. In UK, 8 billion pounds was spent last year on social services for youth and children, much more than a few years ago. However social problems among youths only increased. It is now strongly advocated that the root cause of the increasing social problems among young people is ultimately the result of a lack of fathering and no amount of spending or effort on social services will remedy the situation unless the root issue of fatherhood is addressed and the family unit strengthened.
- London
Riots: Absent Fathers have a lot to answer for
- David Lammy MP says absent fathers 'key cause of knife crime'
- Gang members are
essentially “youngsters without male role models”
Therefore, based on the extensive research and our personal experiences, we believe that for maximum positive social impact, time, effort and resources should be channeled to initiatives that build families and help fathers to connect with their young and eventually become role models or heroes whom their young can look up to and relate to.