Father’s Participation In Childcare Helps With Child's Overall Development, Shows A Study By The Korea Institute Of Child Care And Education

According to a study by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE), children develop to become more sociable individuals when their fathers participate in childcare, reported Korea JoongAng Daily on Friday. The study was conducted through a five-year panel study on 1,505 Korean children who were born in 2008.

When fathers are more involved in childcare, children were also found to be more expressive of their thoughts and feelings more efficiently and have an increased concentration rates. These children are also less likely to develop anxiety, depression and aggression.

"Mothers and fathers give different stimuli to their children," said child education professor Lee Young Hwan who works at the Chonbuk National University. "While mothers tend to use more emotional words and play emotional and linguistic games with their children, fathers tend to use logical words and play more physical, active games with their children.

"Children who are influenced by both, therefore, tend to develop in a balanced way," the professor added.

According to a study published on CIVITAS, fathers spend the most time playing with children as compared to mothers, which can address two of the additional child development needs of toddlers - support in their exploration and an appropriate set of limits. Through child play, they also get to learn problem solving and getting along with other people.

In addition, as these toddlers grow up to be teenagers, they rely more on their mothers for emotional support and their fathers for advice, conversation and for merely just "being there." Young adults who feel their fathers' presence more allegedly have fewer conflicts with their peers.

One of the KICCE researcher, Do Nam Hee, noted that the more fathers spend time with their children, the more effect it has on them. "Small efforts, like driving their children to day care or schools, reading books out loud to them and hugging them are enough for children to feel paternal love," said Do.