Role of the Indian father in his child’s education

Children need their father’s love as much as their mother’s.

By Karishma Thapa

While working as a Special Educator in a clinic in Mumbai, I encouraged parents to come along with their children during therapy sessions as we felt that it was important for them to understand the needs of their differently-abled children, and we as facilitators would merely be a support for their needs. However, the parent who attended therapy sessions would often be just the mother, and only on very rare occasions, the father. This scenario is very common even in families where children do not have special needs.

The father remains this mysterious figure in the background who makes larger decisions regarding a child’s career, while the mother juggles all the daily needs of the children and micro manages.

Shaping children through a father’s love

Would you believe if I told you that a father who is ‘just playing’ with his child also influences his child’s development?

Based on a report in “Fathers and Their Impact on Children’s Well — Being, (M.Oliker, 2011)” children who have fathers who are involved right from birth are ‘more likely to be emotionally secure, confident to explore their surroundings and have better social connections as they grow older.’ An active and nurturing father positively impacts his child’s verbal skills, intellectual functioning as well as academic performance.

Developing an allrounder child

Studies have shown that involved fathers tend to provide better economic support to their children. With this support, children have better access to educational resources and hence, better opportunities to learn. When fathers spend more time with their school going children, helping them with their studies, their commitment has an impact on their children’s academic success. A study on four and five year old boys, showed a higher academic achievement rate when their fathers encouraged their reading and counting skills. Experts have also found that the amount of time a father spends with his children has a direct link to their Math skills! The influence of a father, however, is not just limited to intellectual abilities but also extends to social activities as well as sports. Children whose fathers encourage them in sports and fitness activities are reported to be better performers in school as well as in their careers.

Fathers as role models

Social Scientists have highlighted the impact of the role of the father in a family system. Relations between the father and mother, as well as their interactions greatly influence a child. Especially in the Indian context where children remain dependent on their parents for most major decisions in their life!

In India, the traditional roles of fathers are slowly changing. There appears to be an increase in a father’s involvement in the daily life of the child. Fathers are participating more actively and are more aware of what their child needs.

Stepping stones into the adult world

A child’s education continues even after completing schooling. A father who is actively involved in the lives of his children leads to the development of stable and well-adjusted adults. Mothers as well as fathers provide bridges to the world for their children. The network connections of parents to various social, religious, cultural and historical experiences enrich the lives for their children.

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References

1. (n.d.). Retrieved from CIVITAS: http://www.civitas.org.uk/hwu/fathers.php

2. M.Oliker, D. (2011, June 23). Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the -long-reach-childhood/201106/the -importance-fathers