Question

What kind of impact can a father figure have on a child social emotional development?

Answer 1

A father stands as a symbol of authority in a child’s life, and serves as a role model during their development . Having a positive male role model helps a boy develop positive gender-role characteristics; girls are more likely to form positive opinions of men and are better able to relate to them when fathered by an involved father. It has been shown that an involved and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement. Furthermore, children who have an involved father are more likely to form secure attachments by which they become emotionally secure, confident to explore their surroundings and have better social connections.