Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Father’s Day is June 21st and this year, we are celebrating a new kind of dad. For years, the image of dad was pretty simple, the provider, the rule-maker, maybe even the punchline. But today’s father? He’s doing a lot more. Pew Research shows dads are spending more time with their kids than ever before. So, this Father’s Day, we’re looking at “dad 2.0” and the new playbook that’s changing families.
Once upon a time, dad was the guy in the chair. Now? He’s in the game!
Today, dad is just as likely to be packing lunches, running the carpool and braiding hair.
Pew Research found fathers today spend about three times more time on childcare than dads did in the 1960s. Research shows kids with engaged dads are more likely to do well in school, have stronger social skills and better mental health.
So, what does “dad 2.0” actually look like? First, they are building rituals: making pancakes on Saturdays, reading a bedtime book every night. Taking an after-school walk. That consistency builds trust.
Also, dads aren’t fixing it, they’re listening to it. The CDC says active listening helps strengthen the relationship between parents and kids.
And today dads are present. The CDC says a father’s engagement is linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement, and stronger social skills.
The new dad isn’t just bringing home the bacon. He may be cooking it, packing it, talking through feelings over it.
Fathers today aren’t just providers; they’re partners in every sense. Pew Research shows the share of households with a sole breadwinner dad has dropped significantly. From 85 percent in 1972 to 55 percent today. At the same time, 85 percent of dads say being a parent is one of the most important parts of who they are.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
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Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/06/12/fathers-day-facts/
