Father And Family Activities™ I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: These kids of ours, they love to play! And that includes, of course, the traditional Dad style rough-and-tumble play that men are famous for, but it also includes dramatic play where the dad takes on a role—such
By Patrick Mitchell “But Da-a-a-a-a-d…why do I ha-a-ve to go…?” I don’t want to go…why can’t I just stay here alone and play with my friends. D-a-a-a-a-a-a-d…why-y-y-y?” Most parents talk too much when their kids whine, says Carolyn Crowder, Ph.D., author of Whining: 3 Steps to Stopping it Before
by Patrick Mitchell Father involvement is vital to children’s academic, social, and emotional development—especially in the early years. Parents who acknowledge, and act on, this research-driven reality can give their preschool child a running start in school and in life. One terrific way dads can become deeply involved in their
by Patrick Mitchell Preschool children are much more competent, insightful, thoughtful, and curious than parents give them credit for, says Developmental Psychologist Michael Lamb, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Cambridge University and pre-eminent father involvement and child development researcher for a quarter of a century. Lucky, though, is the
by Patrick Mitchell Alex, pick up your bowl and put it on the table. Good job. Help me? Sure, you can help me. Please take your shirt and put it in the laundry. You’re a good helper. Thank you. Children love doing chores. Okay, perhaps I should clarify: Toddlers
by Patrick Mitchell This post I’d like to share my perspective on taking small children to coffee shops and other public places to show them the world while you simultaneously work or read the newspaper. If you have a toddler, or if you’ve ever had a toddler, you’ll understand how glad
by Patrick Mitchell This month’s recipe comes to you from The Down To Earth Dad’s kitchen in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a city with a French name (which is quite fitting because these crepes originate in France!) You’ll need a round griddle (the likes of an omelet pan will do, if
by Patrick Mitchell A simple change in our family’s nightly routine made for fun times recently when my wife and oldest daughter left the house to attend a concert in a nearby city, leaving my teenage son and I to look after the twin toddlers. The usual nightly routine would
Crock Pot Porker This hearty recipe is perfect for the cold days of Winter that lie ahead. Your kids will most likely ask for seconds, so you may want to double the recipe. In The Down To Earth Dad’s kitchen, we like to serve this meal with hot corn bread
Father and Family Activities™ This month’s father and family activity involves seizing unexpected free moments in your day or week—holes in your To-Do list, if you will—and spending those moments with your children. Dads are busy creatures, but occasionally we get windows of opportunity to chill out, and some of
Twenty some-odd years ago I learned how to overcome public-speaking anxiety during the initial moments when audience eyes fell upon me. The trick, I discovered, was getting people to look away while I pulled myself together. My method was throwing colorful, plastic balls around the room and asking people to
If you want more dads and grandpas involved this February, get them “locked and loaded” in the fall! Do these four things as soon as possible to involve more dads and grandpas: TIP # 1: Raise the Bar at “Intake” Tell your new dads that you “expect” their active participation
Dads and Doctors August 1, 2013Uncategorized I talked recently with Terrence Neff, MD, an Idaho pediatrician and father of three who says that modern dads would probably be criticized if they parented like their own dads did. Dr. Neff told me that his father used to drop him off alone
Everyone knows great teachers don’t always get our full support in their quest to educate our children, and this is doubly true for educators of children under age six. Maybe it’s easier to allocate limited funds to the education of older children because they’re capable of telling a more compelling
I’ve been praising my kids’ “effort” and I’ve avoided saying “Good job!” lately, having read good research showing that children do better and achieve more when they concentrate on putting forth great effort in the things they do—in school, sports, and other endeavors—and that over-praising kids when they put forth
I’ve spent many a lunch hour standing on the school playground watching fourth and fifth graders play soccer. From my vantage point on the sidelines I see children jumping rope, playing foursquare, and tossing a football in the distance. Occasionally two kids will get into an almost-fight on the soccer
Research on father involvement has helped shape a mountain of perceptions about what it takes for a family, and a society, to fully care for its members. By now most of us have heard these facts: Children without involved fathers can experience an increased risk of growing up poor, getting
I interview dads monthly for the National Dads Matter!™ Project that I founded many years ago and facilitate today, giving fathers and grandfathers a voice and visible presence in their local communities. Just about every day I see a father and his kids—sometimes a dad and his very young children—and
Now is a great time to set goals for father engagement in the new year! What are three things you want to do with, or for, the children you care for at home and/or the children you teach at school if you’re an educator? Talk with other dads if you’re