Article Link: http://stage.exchangepress.com/article/the-importance-of-fathers-in-the-lives-of-their-children/5019852/
One of the most significant changes to have occurred in the family structure over the past few decades has been the increased number of children living in father-absent households. Nationally, over 24 million children, or one out of every three, are living in a home without their biological father. Surprisingly, the general public seems to be largely unaware of the true scope of the problem. The issue is better known, perhaps, at the local level where fathers are a rare sight in the family-focused programs of community-based organizations. Unfortunately, most participants are mothers struggling to make ends meet without the help of their children’s father. Although most parents would agree that children are better served when their biological father is actively involved in their lives, getting fathers involved has proven to be the greatest challenge of them all. Even though child development experts will tell you that men by their very nature are an integral part of the child development process, the reality is that men are significantly underrepresented in virtually every area of the child development field, and in many ways equally undervalued.Most families simply try to make the best of a challenging situation. Despite the heroic efforts ...