Father's influence in development during adolescence
| According to psychologists, not only mothers but even fathers play a fundamental role in the development of a child. Apart from caring for the child and nurturing him, fathers must also take up the additional responsibility of guiding the child’s intellectual and social development. |
When the child is an infant, the primary responsibility of a father is to provide comfort and security. Babies tend to form an attachment with fathers who are as responsive to attending the babies’ needs as much as the mothers. This attachment continues to grow as the child grows up. A proper and happy development of a child into an adult is much dependant on the behavior of the parents towards their child. Children need a more secure attachment as they continue developing a relationship with their parents. Fathers, who are more attached to their infants, influence a healthy development of the child’s brain and can have a significant effect on the child’s social, emotional and intellectual development through a verbal and physical stimulation.
When the infant becomes a toddler, father’s role grows in helping the child develop emotional intelligence and understand the importance of relationships. Apart from that, a father also provides a safe but challenging arena to the toddler for exploring. When the child starts going to school, the father’s role becomes important to a child’s developing traits such as sense of self-esteem, problem-solving skills, becoming independent, stronger commitment, responsible and tolerant behavior, intellectual development, morality, behavior, developing thinking skills, being innovative and accomplish tasks and being fit.
When the child enters adolescence, a father’s role changes to that of a friend who can understand, support, and sympathize with him. This is the age when a child tries to develop his personal identity. Teenagers tend to get more influenced by their friends and spend more time with them. Even in these situations, parents have a definite role to play, especially fathers. While teenagers rely on their mothers for emotional support, they rely on their fathers for guidance and advice so that they can meet the future with confidence.
Father's influence in development during adolescence
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