Dear Mums and Dads,
This might seem like a daft question, but how important do you think dads are in their children’s lives and education?
The following exercise is adapted from Anna Freud’s Supporting Dads page:
Dads matter and our views about dads matter. We each hold an emotional and mental representation of fathers based on our early life experiences, and this is true whether he was present or absent, loving or not, alive or dead. Take a minute to think about your own father. What was he like? What did your experiences of him tell you about a man’s role in the family? Whatever your dad is or was like, even if you never met him, the probability is that he will have shaped you, your life and your family in some way.
As I mentioned last year, children do better at school if their fathers read and play with them (according to The University of Manchester on 20/9/2023). Children also benefit from better relationships and emotional well-being when dads and mums are involved in school (2020 Scottish government report).
Not all children live with their dads all the time. This page on dadsnet recognise some of the challenges and suggests some tips for navigating them. And if you’d like some ideas for Christmas fun at home, try Dadsnet’s ‘Elf on the Shelf Cheat Sheet‘.
If you can, why not join us on Decoration Day? As Mr Holland said in his recent letter, “We look forward to seeing lots of dads/grandads joining the many mums/grandmothers who join us on this festive occasion.”
Louise Mullier
Educational Psychotherapist (part-time)
Oaklands Junior School