Playing with Dad improves kids’ school performance

Playing with Dad improves kids' school performance

The Power of Play: How Dads Can Boost Their Kids’ Academic Performance

Father and child playing

Parents are always looking for ways to help their children succeed in school, and a new study from the United Kingdom has discovered a simple and enjoyable strategy: dads spending quality time with their kids through activities like reading, playing, telling stories, drawing, or even singing.

The researchers at Leeds University Business School found that when fathers regularly engaged with their 3-year-old children in these activities, their kids performed better academically when they reached 5 years of age. Furthermore, the positive effects continued when dads remained involved when the child turned 5, resulting in improved scores in key assessments by the age of 7.

This study, which examined thousands of two-parent households, revealed that even just 10 minutes of daily interaction made a significant difference. So why does father-child interaction have such a profound impact on children’s educational achievement?

Dr. Michael Yogman, a pediatrician at Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, suggests that having two parents actively engaging with the child provides a double dose of parenting and creates a trusted relationship. Additionally, dads bring something unique to the table. According to Dr. Yogman, fathers provide a more arousing and playful play experience, even from a young age. Their interactions tend to be more physical and vigorous, involving games like tickling, lifting the baby high above their head, and bicycling the baby’s legs, often resulting in joyful belly laughs. In contrast, mothers are more likely to engage in repetitive verbal games.

The key to child development lies in the complementary ways parents support their child’s growth. One parent typically emphasizes security and protection, while the other encourages independence, exploration, and problem-solving. It’s the balance of these activities that provides unique benefits to children and fits well with most developmental theories.

The study also highlighted that fathers tend to engage with their children differently than mothers, exposing kids to a broader range of experiences. The researchers analyzed data from 5,000 mother-father households in England, using the Millennium Cohort Study, which involved children born between 2000 and 2002.

Dr. Helen Norman, a research fellow at Leeds and co-author of the study, stated that although mothers still tend to assume the primary caregiver role, actively involving fathers in childcare significantly increases the likelihood of children achieving better grades in primary school. Therefore, encouraging fathers to share childcare responsibilities from an early stage is vital.

Play is often referred to as the work of childhood, and for good reason. Lisa Cies, a child life specialist at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, points out that children use play to engage with others, learn about their world, understand how things work, express stress, and develop coping mechanisms. In play at home, quality time takes precedence over quantity. Spending as little as 10 minutes of focused, distraction-free playtime, following the child’s lead, can yield significant benefits.

Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, echoes the findings of the study, emphasizing that even small investments of time can have important benefits. He believes that fathers should take advantage of paternity leave to be actively involved with their children from the very beginning.

It is important to note that the study focused on two-parent households with mothers and fathers, so the results may not be directly applicable to single-parent or same-sex parent households. Future research could provide valuable insights into the impacts of fathers on older children and teenagers’ education, as well as guidance for diverse family structures.

To incorporate more play into daily life, Dr. Yogman suggests simple strategies such as creating playful games while walking to school, playing counting games at the grocery store, and reading together with opportunities for the child to embellish the story. The goal is to show parents that incorporating play doesn’t have to be an added burden to their already busy schedules but rather an opportunity to enhance their existing activities.

In conclusion, the power of play and father-child interactions cannot be underestimated when it comes to enhancing children’s academic performance. Dads bring a unique style of play that complements and enhances the support provided by mothers. By actively engaging with their children through playful activities, dads can create lasting positive effects on their kids’ educational journeys. Schools can also play a role by developing strategies to engage fathers more effectively. So, let’s encourage and support fathers to be present and playful, shaping a brighter future for the next generation.

References:The American Academy of Pediatrics: The Power of Play – Michael Yogman, MD, pediatrician, Cambridge Health Alliance, Massachusetts – Lisa Cies, MA, child life specialist, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles – Jason Nagata, MD, associate professor, pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco – “What a Difference A Dad Makes: Parental Involvement and its Effects on Children’s Education (PIECE),” University of Leeds, United Kingdom, Sept. 20, 2023