Tips for Effective Coparenting
Many fathers wish that they could spend more time with their children but unfortunately these fathers find it hard to make time for their children when they have to work long hours in order to support them. Sadly, other fathers with time to spare choose to spend time engaging in other activities that do not include their children.
While a mother's attachment to her child is immediate, it usually takes a father longer to develop such a special bond. However, this is no excuse for fathers to not create a bond with their children. Therefore, it is important for mothers to help fathers establish this special bond by encouraging healthy coparenting. The following resources will include strategies that mothers can utilize to involve fathers in their child's life.
While a mother's attachment to her child is immediate, it usually takes a father longer to develop such a special bond. However, this is no excuse for fathers to not create a bond with their children. Therefore, it is important for mothers to help fathers establish this special bond by encouraging healthy coparenting. The following resources will include strategies that mothers can utilize to involve fathers in their child's life.
Resources
In the following videos Courtenay discusses "What Moms can do to get Dads more involved" while Badalament discusses "How mothers can help dads become better parents".
Will Courtenay, PhD
Psychotherapist. 2015. Kids in the House.
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John Badalament, EdM
Author & Educator. 2015. Kids in the House.
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Mom/dad/baby. 2015. Play Buzz. Web.
What to Expect-Pregnancy and Parenting Education
Some moms may have a hard time realizing when they need to "let go" of their newborn and take a rest. It's never too early for the mom to step aside and let the dad take over, especially if the mom has been in charge of the situation for the majority of the time. The following resource describes six steps towards getting "Dad on Duty" during the first year (and afterwards).These include:
1. Acknowledging you need help
2. Asking dad
3.Taking the backseat and letting dad take control
4. Not being hypercritical
5. Realizing that a change in parenting can be beneficial
for you, dad, and child
6. Keeping in mind that the dad is "not a helper, but a
partner"
Some moms may have a hard time realizing when they need to "let go" of their newborn and take a rest. It's never too early for the mom to step aside and let the dad take over, especially if the mom has been in charge of the situation for the majority of the time. The following resource describes six steps towards getting "Dad on Duty" during the first year (and afterwards).These include:
1. Acknowledging you need help
2. Asking dad
3.Taking the backseat and letting dad take control
4. Not being hypercritical
5. Realizing that a change in parenting can be beneficial
for you, dad, and child
6. Keeping in mind that the dad is "not a helper, but a
partner"
Kissing Child. 2014. iStockPhotos. Web.
When dads are not spending as much time with their children after the early years as moms or kids would like, moms can try to alter the pattern. In the following resource, fatherhood expert, Wayne Parker, lists five ways that moms can help fathers connect with their older children. These include:
- Find role models
- Plan and Calendar Activities
- Watch a movie together
- Find common interests
- Reinforce good behavior
Understanding Dad Complete Program Kit. 2014. Germantown, Maryland.
National Fatherhood Initiative. Web.
Fatherhood-National Fatherhood Initiative
The National Fatherhood Initiative site makes it a point to emphasize the importance of moms involving dads in children's lives. In fact, not only have they offered "6 ways to involve moms in involving dads" but they have also created books and CDs designed to accomplish this very task. You can access this curricula here.
The National Fatherhood Initiative site makes it a point to emphasize the importance of moms involving dads in children's lives. In fact, not only have they offered "6 ways to involve moms in involving dads" but they have also created books and CDs designed to accomplish this very task. You can access this curricula here.
Agarwal, Devya.
Men Mom Health. 2015. Men Mom Health. Web.
Men Mom Health-Mom Blog
MenMomHealth is a blog created by Devyal Agarwal, both a mother and a software engineer. In her blog, she discusses everything from mother's self-care to parenting and beauty. She is mentioned in this section for her blog which presents tips for moms to encourage dads to spend more time with their children.
MenMomHealth is a blog created by Devyal Agarwal, both a mother and a software engineer. In her blog, she discusses everything from mother's self-care to parenting and beauty. She is mentioned in this section for her blog which presents tips for moms to encourage dads to spend more time with their children.