84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 22, 2002
Family Living
Focus
by
Cheryl Miller
Perry County
Cooperative Extension
Father Makes
Home Run
It’s the bottom of the ninth in
ning with two outs and the batter
has a full count. Billy hugs sec
ond base and Janet is rooted on
third. Billy and Janet watch dad
inside the batter’s box. He grips
the bat and firmly plants his feet
waiting for the pitch. The pitcher
lets the bail fly, dad swings
and...dad is expected to knock
the ball out of the park, thus win
ning the game and becoming the
hero.
Is that a fair and realistic
image for fathers and their role in
the family? If the role of super
hero is what we expect from fa
thers, it could lead to feelings of
guilt and confusion.
Today, the image of dad is
changing from that of the solitary
breadwinner that comes home at
the end of the day to hide behind
the newspaper or become en
grossed in the television. He is
freeing himself of the old stereo
type to take on a more involved
role in the life of his children.
Dad is discovering what research
has concluded: the role of father
has a profound influence on the
social, emotional, and intellectual
development of his children.
According to Ann K. Smith,
Ph.D., Ohio State Cooperative
Extension. “Fathers
have an important im
pact on their children
from infancy through
adulthood. One re
searcher concludes
that fathers who are
more involved in in
fant caregiving have
infants with greater
cognitive development
at one year of age than
fathers who are less in
volved in infant care
giving. Infants can dis
tinguish fathers from
other adults early. An
other investigator re
ported that fathers
who were very involv
ed with their preschool
children helped foster
their verbal ability.
One study on parent
ing skills with adoles
cents noted that ado
lescents need firm
guidance followed by
explanations and rea
sons for that guid-
ance.”
Research findings
document the impor
tance of the father’s
influence on their chil
dren in the areas of
self-esteem and school
achievement. One fa
ther reports being af
fectionate with his
children.
Andrew says, “My
greatest thrill is com
ing home at the end of
the day to have my
daughters throw their
arms around me for a
group hug. When they
were babies and tod
dlers they would curl
up on my lap, and we
would read their fa
vorite book...over and
over again.”
Another dad shared
his favorite activity
was brushing and
combing his son’s hair.
It was an activity that help them
both to unwind. Sharing time
and affection with children con
tributes positively to their self-es
teem.
Researchers report that fathers
who value education have chil
dren who do better in school than
those fathers who do not value
education. One investigator re
ported a relationship of chil
dren’s reading levels to the
amount they saw their fathers
reading in the home. Thus, the
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father can have an influence on
the level of importance of educa
tion for sons and daughters.
Each father is a unique person
who parents in his own style, yet
there are some characteristics
that caring fathers have in com
mon.
Caring fathers are involved in
the lives of their children. Jason
says, “My work keeps me on the
road, yet whenever I’m home I
make every effort to attend their
parent-teacher conferences,
school plays, and soccer games.
The kids like to go with me when
I take the car to have it serviced.
It’s a great way for them to learn
about adult responsibilities.”
Caring fathers expect a great
deal from children, but also ac
cept and support the unique indi
viduals their children are becom
ing. They acknowledge each
child and are never ashamed of
the children.
Caring fathers set limits and
are firm. According to Andrew,
“I try to set realistic expectations
for my three children. We talk
about the rules and they know
what will happen if they break
the rules. I try to be realistic. I
know they will break a rule
sometime. I try to hear their side
of the story before I discipline
them.”
Caring fathers spend time with
their children. They realize that
their time with children is really
an investment in them. Taking
time for the child when the child
needs that time will be much
more important than taking time
for the child when it is conven-
ient for the father.
Being an involved father
has a profound influence
in their children’s growth
and development, it is the
way to make a home run.
10V
Game Booths Wanted For
Montgomery County 4-H Fair
COLLEGEVILLE (Montgom
ery Co.) Local community
service organizations, home and
school groups, and other non
profits are invited to participate
in the Montgomery County 4-H
Fair by setting up a game booth
during the 4-H Fair. The 4-H
Fair is scheduled for Aug. 8-10 at
the 4-H Center, located on Route
113 near Skippack.
The 4-H Fair is family-ori
ented, non-commercial, and at
tended by approximately 5,000
people over die three days. 4-H
would like to offer community
groups the opportunity to make
money for their organization and
at the same time, add additional
entertainment for families at the
Fair. The group is asked to make
a small donation to the 4-H pro
gram, to help offset the costs of
the Fair.
Organizations may charge a
nominal fee to play their game
and keep the profits. The game
Cooking For Crowds Workshops
COLLEGEVILLE (Montgom
ery Co.) Montgomery County
Cooperative Extension is hosting
A Basic Food Safety Workshop
for Non-Profit Organizations
such as churches, fire companies,
organizations, and school groups.
Volunteers may take the class
for free. The cost of the program
is $6 which includes materials
Mahoning Outdoor Furnaces
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Standard Models Burn Wood, Coal
Multi-Fuel Models Burn Wood, Coal,
Oil, Propane, Gas or Waste Oil
“Adapts To All Existing Systems”
www. mahoningoutdoorfurnace. com
800-692-5200
Dealerships Available In Some Areas
i For Value-Added Sales or for Personal Use 1
a Process meat easily and affordably with Chop- i
■ Rite Two Meat Processors. Make sausage for your a
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Call 1-800-683-5858
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• fTfrTTTTI 531 Old Skippack Rd. !
r I TTC A I Harleysville, PA 19438 i
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must be family-oriented (no bet
ting), award small prizes for win
ners, and must be pre-approved
by the 4-H staff. No individual
entrepreneurs may participate
and no food may be sold strict
ly games.
All of the game booths will be
outdoors and must have their
own table, chairs and any other
needed equipment. Groups are
welcome to put up a sign to ad
vertise their organization and the
name of the game. Electricity
will not be available, but there
will be adequate lighting in the
evening. The hours for game
booth operation are: Thursday,
7-9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.;
Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Those interested in participat
ing should contact Helaine
Brown, 4-H Agent, at (610)
489-4315, Monday through Fri
day, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. before Aug.
1.
and refreshments. The Cooking
for Crowds class will be offered
June 26 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and
June 27 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at
the Montgomery County 4-H
Center, located on Route 113 be
tween Route 29 and Route 73 in
Creamery. Call for directions
(610)489-4315.