Three – quarters of dads spend less than? two? hours of quality time a day with their children , according to new research? while one in five spend less than half a day a week with them. This is despite 86% of dads believing their children would like more of their time.
The study of 1,500 dads and 500 children,? reveals that? more than? half of England’s dads (52%) feel second rate compared to their child’s mother – who they feel is the best person to talk to their children about their problems.
But despite this lack of confidence among fathers, 55%? of children interviewed said they wanted to spend more time with their dad and? 39% said they would rather play with their dad than a computer game or their friends.
Some 57% said they wanted to play sports, so this Sunday, with Euro 2008 at final fever pitch, Relate, Dadtalk.co.uk, ParentlinePlus, Contact a Family, Young Minds and Netmums are encouraging dads and kids everywhere to just have some cheap, simple fun wherever they are – by taking part in THE BIG KICK.
?One of the most important things you can do for your kids is spend time with them ,” said Cath Allen from Relate for Parents, one of the charities and organisations responsible for the research and? THE BIG KICK .? ” The more time you spend together the more relaxed you’ll all feel in each other’s company making it easier in the long run to talk about the things that matter.”
“More than half of the dads we spoke to (57%) said they’d enjoy playing sport with their kids so we decided to arrange THE BIG KICK,”? added Matt Buttery from wwww.dadtalk.co.uk, another one of the organisations involved. “We hope we can get thousands of dads and their kids kicking a ball around and having fun this Sunday at 11am – wherever they are.”
England may not be in Euro 2008, but you can still organise your own game, and you don’t have to be in Europe, or anywhere special at all to take part?
So this Sunday at 11am take part in THE BIG KICK. Grab a ball and kick it around wherever you are ? in your garden, your street or get some friends and their kids together and set up a mini five-a-side in the local park.
If you live near Canon Hill Park, Birmingham, Temple Newsam Estate, Leeds or Saltwell Park, Gateshead why not come along to one of the Free BIG KICK events to play a fun, bigger game with other dads and children. The first 100 families to turn up will get a free England team football worth ?15. Kick-off is 11am!
Jill Harrison, Contact a Family?s External Affairs Director, the only UK wide charity providing advice and support for parents of disabled children suggests ways for dads and disabled children to take part in the BIG KICK too. “Dads of disabled children are often under enormous practical, physical and emotional pressures caring for their child. It’s important for their wellbeing and that of the whole family that dads set aside time to have fun and relax with their children.
“Most disabled children enjoy playing sports and we would encourage those families that can, to get involved in THE BIG KICK event. And for those that can’t, just spending time together by hanging out together indoors, going swimming or to the local park can have huge benefits for all the family.”
Want more advice on how to be the best dad you can be?
The research goes on to show that 70% of dads have never asked for advice on how to talk to or spend time with their kids and 38% wouldn’t know who to ask if they did want help.? There are many services available to help dads with friendly, non-judgemental advice and information including more advice and real-life dads’ top tips on spending happy time with your children.
Support websites and helplines for parents
? Contact a Family is aUK wide charity providing advice, information and support to parents of all disabled children.
?? Dads Space is a no-nonsense advice for dads from dads and parenting experts on a range of issues, including a safe 1-2-1 area where fathers who are separated from their children can build and enhance their relationship by staying in contact and interacting online
?? Dadtalk is an online community of fathers where you can share ideas, find information and talk about the nitty-gritty issues of being a dad
?? Netmums is a locally based social networking site connecting parents with each other and services within their local area.
?? Parentline is a free and confidential Parentline service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.? A national charity that works for, and with, Parents.
? Relate for Parents is a new service from Relate, the UK’s largest provider of relationship counselling, aimed at strengthening and maintaining family relationships.
? YoungMinds is the UK’s only national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of all children and young people.
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