The COVID-19 global pandemic has seen more parents fall into the work-at-home category and more children fall into the school-at–home category. This has accelerated the trend toward dads being more involved in the day-to-day parenting of their children.
According to DaddiLife’s Dads In Lockdown survey, 76% of fathers stated that they are more involved in caring for their children than before the pandemic. I am happy to be included in this trend.
Engaged fathers are vital
Evidence is growing that a father being involved in his child’s life has a positive effect on their lives in many ways.
One study found that children who have their father involved in their upbringing and school behavior are well-behaved, learn better and enjoy school more. It goes beyond education. Engaged fathers have been shown to have a dramatic positive impact on the emotional development of their children. They offer less psychological distress, less criminality, and feel more self-worth. This helps them develop stronger relationships for the future.
Playtime, where is it found?
The Dads In Lockdown survey found that playtime is the most popular time dads spend with their children (83%), followed closely by cleaning (70%), cooking (67%), and bedtime (45%).
Six years.
Learning through play and homeschooling
Schools closing at various stages of the pandemic has led to parents taking on a hybrid role of parent-teacher-employee. Some children have difficulty coping and cannot learn at home. Parents must be creative to minimize the negative impact on their education.
Here are some examples of play
Here are some ways dads have learned from their sons through play.
My son was approximately two years old and four months when we entered the first lockdown. However, these examples have been beneficial for older children.
Scalextric
It was an incredible nostalgia journey for me when my mom brought my Scalextric set right before the lockdown. It was a great help to my son in many ways. Thanks to the track, he could identify unusual shapes and determine bends and straights. He could recognize different colors on an object by using cars. He quickly learned that cars could fly off the way if they drove too fast into corners, furthering his understanding of cause and effect.
These games are great for older children, as they allow them to understand the principles of momentum, velocity, and aerodynamics. You can quickly adapt the learning to suit your child’s age.
Beyblade
Although he could not play correctly, I managed to get out some of my Beyblade toys during the first weeks of lockdown. It also had a noticeable impact on him.
Disney Cars
My boy has been obsessed with Disney Cars since the lockdown. While I don’t recommend that you buy all Disney Cars, many of the benefits and practices can be applied to any other character-based toy, game, or object toy.
