Author Archives: editor

DIY Ideas for Keeping the Kids Entertained this Summer

The summer holidays are fast approaching.  Dads can see this as a stressful time, trying to juggle their household plans for the summer and thinking of ideas to keep the kids entertained at home. But getting your children involved with your DIY chores at home and in the garden can keep the kids busy and make for hours and hours of productive fun. Depending on their age, announcing that DIY is on the agenda for the day may be met with a chorus of moans and groans. However, there are never Read more [...]

How to bond with your new born

It can be hard for some new dads to interact and bond with their new borns. If you are a new dad you may feel awkward and less confident than the mother, but persevere. The more touching, cuddling, talking, eye contact and time you give your baby, the closer will be your relationship with them. When dads cuddle, touch and talk to their newborns, both the baby and the dad will want more. In one study, a group of fathers of one month-old babies were given training in baby massage, and encouraged Read more [...]

Dads twice as influential as mums on teen child’s sexual behaviour

Fathers have a huge role to play in their teenage children’s attitude to sex. Studies have shown that the father can be twice as effective as the mother in influencing and controlling their child’s sexual behaviour. A study by researchers at Boston College found that  teenagers whose fathers were more involved in their lives were less likely to engage in risky sexual activities such as unprotected intercourse. The more attentive the dad — and the more he knows about his teenage child's Read more [...]

Parenting lessons from Kung fu films

Kung Fu Daddy is a dad blogger who sees lessons in parenting through kung fu movies. Here he demonstrates how Samurai Fiction, a Jap movie that has influenced Tarantino,  can show  "Honor Among Fathers". Samurai Fiction, Hiroyuki Nakano, Japan, 1998 Don’t be fooled by the title – this is not the Pulp Fiction of samurai films. Not for lack of trying. Awesome soundtrack? Yup. Stylized characters drawn from genre? Ditto. Non-linear storytelling? At times, yes, along with self-aware Read more [...]

Men get “baby blues” too

Its not only women who suffer from the baby blues, men can get it too. A new study suggests that  10% of new fathers may experience post-natal depression, yet most cases go undetected and untreated, American researchers discovered. Lack of sleep and new responsibilities, or supporting a wife with post-natal depression can be triggers, they say. They found new fathers were generally happiest in the early weeks after the birth of their baby, with depression kicking in after three to six months. By Read more [...]

Clearing the low bar of fatherhood

  Its a sad endictment of men that women dont expect very much from them when it comes to fatherhood. As  Portlanddad explains.   Today while dropping Primo off at Kindergarten I watched a dad fix his daughter’s hair with clips and a smoothing hand. They were running late so he saved the polishing touches for last and he did a great job. I watched thinking that he was a great dad because he could fix his daughter’s hair with such a smooth hand. The truth is I have no Read more [...]

Tough Love Parenting

Lessons in tough-love parenting from  no-nonsense dad Chopper Papa I make no bones about it; I am a tough love parent. And by tough love I mean I have no fear of being the mean parent, when necessary. Whether that trait came from my stalwart father or bigger-than-life grandfather I can’t say. But what I do know is that my veins can run ice cold when the situation warrants. I can remember, when I was still married, our daughter was just starting to walk. In the week’s leading up she had Read more [...]

Advice For Fathers To Be

1. Though pregnancy is MUCH harder on the man than the woman, it is not considered wise to say this aloud, particularly to a woman, particularly to a pregnant woman. 2. From time to time you will be asked, “Am I still attractive” by the pregnant female. The safest thing to do is think back on a time when she WAS attractive, think of your unborn child and the affect divorce will have on her, and though your parents told you never to do this, LIE YOUR ASS OFF. (Be careful not to add anything Read more [...]

Stormtrooper Daddies – Star Wars Parenting

Ever watched Star Wars and wondered what kidn of parents the Stormtroopers might be? Nope? Us neither but one Swedish woman has. Photographer Kristina Alexanderson has taken a series of photos depicting Star Wars Stormtroopers and Clone Troopers as parents. The Flickr set shows the Storm Troopers doing normal day-to-day activities with their kids. The first Storm Trooper toy Alexanderson used was her son’s action figure. After that, she bought others, as well as LEGO minifigs Read more [...]

How Dads differ from Moms

  Wrestling with your kids and playing physical games of rough and tumble is a great way to have fun and bond. But its also teachinbg them valuable life skills. Its a very good way for your kids to learn self-confidence and how to handle their young bodies as they wrestle, tumble and fall. It also helps them learn how to interact with others, to develop empathy and to rein in their aggression. Rough and tumble is something that men do far more than women and is one of the ways their Read more [...]