Father Figure

The Importance Of The Father Figure

A father or father figure is important to children even as young as infants. They learn that they get unconditional love from both parents and take that lesson throughout their lives. Children like to know that they have two parents who love them and will care for them no matter what.

The father figure helps to keep children feeling positive. He provides them with the confidence to grow up and face the world as adults. While the mother usually demonstrates a softer side of love to the children the father demonstrates a more masculine love. He shows his love in other ways that help children to better understand people throughout life. The relationship with the father figure gives children the opportunity to gain self-esteem.

Studies have shown that children who grow up without a father figure end up in trouble more often than those whose father was there. Not only do they commit more crimes but they also have lower test scores in school. This may be due to the fact that these children were lacking the discipline and role model of their father to learn to distinguish right from wrong.

The father is a role model for hard work. Since he is most often the main breadwinner of the family the children see that he puts in long hours to pay for the things they have. Younger children look up to their father as almost a hero. They put their dad on a pedestal and feel as though he can do no wrong. As children reach adolescence they test their relationship with their parents. The father is looked to for advice and they trust his judgment and decisions.

Children look to the father and mother as a model for future relationships. Although they don't realize it, children are taking in all the relationship dynamics that they see everyday and processing that. As they become older and start to have their own relationships they use that bank of knowledge as a pattern for how a male/female relationship should be. If they saw a loving partnership between the parents they are likely to be able to form good relationships with people of the opposite sex. Conversely, if they witnessed a dysfunctional relationship they will need to overcome those thoughts and rebuild their ideal of what a relationship should look like.

Even fathers who are divorced play an important role in their children's lives. The time spent with the children helps them to feel loved and wanted. Kids need to gain self-esteem by being built up by both parents throughout their childhood. Fathers who are not physically present should continue to take an active interest in their children's lives.

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