We know that fathers play a very important role in raising their kids. Many of us also have children in our families or communities who are not our own but we take responsibility for them. Having a positive, supportive father or father figures in a child’s life makes them confident, secure, and cleverer adults.

The quality and quantity of time a man spends with his baby has a direct impact on how secure children feel growing up.
Babies with strong attachments to their dads tend to have fewer behavioural problems later on. In fact, some studies suggest this relationship might have an even greater impact on the behaviour of pre-teen children than the mother-baby attachment.
Substantial father involvement from at least the first month after birth promotes better language development and better learning and understanding skills (suggested by higher IQ scores) among toddlers and young children.

The opposite is also true. When men set negative examples, such as abusing alcohol, having many partners, or being violent and abusive, the young boys in their lives may behave in a similar way when they grow up, and the young girls may seek out abusive men themselves and take up risky behaviour. By choosing to set a good example in our own lives, we can help all children grow into confident young people who build positive lives and take responsibility for their health and relationships.