October 17, 2024

The Dad Space to build meaningful connections between fathers and children

10-week program will provide fathers with the skills and confidence to improve their parenting

Over the past few years, researchers and professional staff working within the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Early Start have noticed more and more fathers bringing their children along to the Discovery Space.

So, they decided to create a unique program that would acknowledge the importance of fathers and father-figures in children’s lives.

The Dad Space program, which will launch on Friday 25 October and run weekly until mid-December, will examine the special impact that fathers and male caregivers have on children’s development and help them to build stronger connections within their families.

Associate Professor Jane Herbert, Head of Community Partnerships and a researcher within the Interactions and Relationships research focus area of the Early Start Institute, co-designed the Dad Space alongside PhD candidate Amy Hofmeier, and Early Start Education Partnership Coordinator Sally Robson and her team. She said that fathers play a critical role in their children’s development, yet this connection has not received the attention it deserves.

“Studies have highlighted that those children who have engaged, warm fathers have fewer emotional and behavioural problems, are more self-confident and generous, and perform better academically,” Associate Professor Herbert said.

“But fathers and male caregivers often don’t get the same acknowledgment as mothers. While there are often ‘Mummy and me’ programs, and mothers are recognised socially as the default parent, there is little that celebrates the father’s role in the family structure, whatever that family structure looks like.

“There is a lack of social support and resources to help men develop their skills and confidence in parenting,” Associate Professor Herbert said.

In addition to learning from experts in the field, participants can also meet other fathers to share their parenting experiences.

The Dad Space is a 10-week program with key topics that include:

• Building self-confidence in fathers and children

• Supporting children's social skills and emotion regulation
• Strengthening father-child bonds
• Creating everyday routines
• Encouraging reading and play
• Exploring numeracy and financial literacy

 Ms Hofmeier, who is undertaking a PhD in the School of Psychology that focuses on the modern father’s role in early childhood social emotional development, said the Dad Space would highlight the importance of equity in parental relationships.

“Dads get a bad rap. We hope the Dad Space program will demonstrate that fathers who are present, involved, and sensitive can have a positive influence on their children’s social emotional development,” she said.

“Our goal is to equip fathers with a toolbox of practical strategies they can use to nurture their child’s growth. When we support fathers, we support whole families.”

Sally Robson, Education Partnership Coordinator within the Discovery Space, reinforced the community need and interest in a program with this focus.

"Our team of Program Partners and Play Partners has seen an increase in fathers and male caregivers bringing their children to play and often developing relationships with our team through repeat visitation. The opportunities to co-create public programs in partnership with our research colleagues in Early Start is testament to our capacity to dynamically respond to community needs," she said. 

The Dad Space will run at the Early Start Discovery Space every Friday from 25 October to 13 December. Participation is free for Discovery Space members or included in the price of entry for non-members.