The Fatherhood Institute’s poll of 1,000 dads, in association with online grocer Ocado, revealed that almost half of fathers said they had been ignored by maternity services.
Despite this, the majority of the dads showed willingness to help their child succeed in life, with 50 per cent saying they would go to parenting classes, 54 per cent agreeing to spend more time in their child’s school, and 65 per cent to read more with their child at home.
The authors claim that, ‘Today’s dads are contributing substantially at home to their children’s care, and will do more as this is made possible for them.’ They say that there are huge opportunities for schools and nurseries to get fathers more involved if they approach them in the right way, with respect for what they have to offer. ‘Businesses that have done very well marketing their services and products to mothers are going to have to broaden their offer to include both parents if they are to succeed in this new parenting landscape’, they add.
The poll coincides with this year’s Fathers’ Story Week, 13-19 June, which launched on Monday with an event for dads and children at Westminster, hosted by the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood David Lammy MP, to argue the case for more father-friendly school and public services.
Rob Williams, chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said, ‘We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of organisations keen to get involved in Fathers’ Story Week – and the range of innovative ways they’re finding to engage dads and kids.
'Our aim is to make sure that supporting dads’ involvement is not something that happens as a one-off, but is in fact embedded into the culture of schools and other public services. Because it’s proven that when done properly, fathers’ engagement can benefit children’s attainment no end.’
