Exploring parental perception on fathers’ involvement in child development for 0-3 years old children

Abstract

Research suggests that, it is now established that fathers play an essential role in the upbringing of their children. And they are as sensitive and nurturing to their children as mothers can be. A father's nurturing presence can benefit children and help them develop cognitively, socially, and emotionally as they grow. The purpose of the study is to explore parental perception on fathers’ involvement in child development for 0-3 years old children. Data were collected through in-depth-interviews and group discussions. First, the study discovered that most of the participants have the clear idea about child development and fathers' involvement. They tried to explain about child development by saying it is a holistic growth and development that covers physical, mental and social development of a child and it starts from birth. Second, the study's findings revealed that fathers have been doing different kinds of activities in supporting their children's holistic development. Fathers gave emphasis on spending quality time with their children. They also help their children in their daily activities. Third, all participants mentioned that fathers face various challenges regarding their involvement in child development; they try to mitigate the challenges in many ways and get involved in child caring and development. Finally, the report concludes with directions for future research and calls for more comprehensive and exploratory research in this area. For more activities, training, workshop, and different programs can be undertaken to promote the importance of ECD.