‘Fathers best but most underutilised child dev resource’

LUCKNOW: The Unicef launched its new parenting website on Sunday, Father’s Day, as part of its ‘Super Dads’ campaign, which recognises the role of fathers in children’s early development.

The United Nations Children’s Fund is calling for more support for fathers, globally, including policies that give parents the time and resources they need to spend quality time with children. The website brings together fathers from across the world to share parenting tips and their struggles, needs and successes while raising kids.

“More than just being a second parent or an extra set of hands, fathers are one of the best child development resources that we have. If we are going to give children the best start in life, we need to fully recognise and utilise this,” said Dr Pia Britto, UNICEF chief of early childhood development.

UNICEF is also using the Father’s Day to renew its call to break down cultural and financial barriers preventing fathers from spending quality time with their young children.

“There is no time more critical for brain development than the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, and there’s a growing body of evidence that suggests that fathers hold a huge stake in this process. Yet this evidence is not being matched with investment in terms of the support that fathers urgently need to step up and be the best they can be,” said Dr Britto.

The ‘Super Dads’ campaign is intended to remind parents everywhere that when fathers nurture their young ones – providing

› More than just being a second parent or an extra set of hands, fathers are one of the best child development resources. If we are to give children the best start in life, we need to fully recognise this.

DR PIA BRITTO, Unicef chief of early childhood development

them love and protection, playing with them and supporting their nutrition – children learn better, have fewer behavioural issues, and grow into healthier and happier adults.

Research also suggests that when fathers are able to bond with their babies, they are more likely to play an active role in the children’s development. Such kids grow up to have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction.

Lucknow based businessman and father Gaurav Prakash said, “The journey of my daughter Aradhya from crawling to walking has been the best thing that happened to me. There was a time when my wife was bed-ridden and I happily took over her role in the household, especially looking after my infant daughter. The bond that a daughter shares with her father is priceless.”

Several fathers of the city posted pictures with their children on social media on the day and expressed their unbound love for their kids.