Father’s Day may have a commercial pretense to it, but that doesn’t change the fact that many Americans will take June 19th as a serious occasion to express deep gratitude to fathers. As this Heritage FamilyFacts.org video shows, fatherhood is well worth the recognition. Dads help hold American families, and ultimately, civil society together.
“The Importance of Fathers” makes it clear that fathers are more than just breadwinners for their families. They’re especially significant in the lives of their children.
Fathers who stay in touch with their sons and daughters make a huge impact on their overall well-being. For example, as research from FamilyFacts.org demonstrates, those children who have better relationships with their fathers perform better academically.
Strong father-son relationships also decrease the likelihood of future substance abuse and a strong paternal bond can prevent young men from anti-social and delinquent behavior. The video highlights the importance of father-daughter relationships as well. Fathers can help prevent their daughters from developing depression, and a strong father-daughter relationship can also decrease the likelihood of teen sexual activity and pregnancy.
Research shows that children benefit from being raised in intact families, and specifically, from having a strong paternal figure in their lives. In a culture that seems to have lost some of its appreciation for the benefits of marriage and parentage, it is important to celebrate the significance of fatherhood and its impact on American society. Father’s Day may just be another “Hallmark Holiday,” but strong fathers make it a holiday worth celebrating.
Mary Frances Boyle a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. For more information on interning at Heritage, please visit: http://www.heritage.org/about/departments/ylp.cfm