This year's Father's Day, on 20 June, will be extra special, as 2010 marks the centenary of this annual tradition. While listening to a Mother's Day church service in Washington state, USA, in 1909, a young woman called Sonora Smart Dodd decided to instigate a similar day for dads. Mothering Sunday had been part of the secular and Christian calendar for centuries, but there was no equivalent festival to celebrate fathers.
After the death of his wife in childbirth, Sonora's father had raised six children alone, and she wanted to find a way to thank him for his love and selflessness, honour the sacrifices he had made, and tell him how special he was. So, the following year, Father's Day was born and, over the decades, grew into the annual event we know and celebrate the world over.
THE ROLE OF FATHERS
Whatever the family set-up, there is no denying that dads, step-dads, grandfathers and other males regularly present in a child's life bring to the relationship many different qualities, experiences and perspectives from those provided by mothers alone, and for most children a male influence or role model in their lives can only be a positive thing.
It is well documented that children who have an involved and supportive father are likely to be happier, more settled, make friends and build relationships more easily, stay out of trouble, and achieve more academic success, than those who have no major male influence in their lives. So it is important that early years settings should do all they can to make fathers feel welcome, and to keep them informed and involved in all aspects of their child's learning and development.
FATHERS' STORY WEEK
That is the aim of Fathers' Story Week, a national initiative from the Fatherhood Institute from 14 to 20 June. Supported by the National Day Nurseries Association, Pre-School Learning Alliance, Families Need Fathers and many other organisations, the week provides an ideal opportunity to show how much we value fathers' role and to encourage them to visit their children's early years setting and spend time sharing reading and doing other activities with their children.
Sadly, the absence of avid male readers, particularly of fiction, to act as positive role models for their children can have a long-lasting effect, especially on young boys keen to emulate their fathers and avoid anything they see as being too 'girly'.
It doesn't matter so much what books fathers choose to read with their children; it's the act of sharing that counts. But there are some very relevant ones to consider.
Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements (Clarion Books) shows a lone dad taking his child on an outing, tying shoelaces, mopping up mess, washing up and dealing with bath and bedtime routines, showing that fathers can be just as capable, patient and loving as mothers.
My Dad by Children's Laureate Anthony Browne (Doubleday) is the perfect choice for children of all ages, especially boys, as it shows all that is amazing and heroic about a dad who can do just about everything to perfection, and demonstrates the close relationship between father and son.
Dad! I Can't Sleep by Michael Foreman (Andersen Press) uses animal characters in a familiar domestic setting, but here it is dad who does the ironing, delivers drinks and goodnight kisses to his son and offers advice about how to get to sleep. A great way to break down traditional ideas that only mothers can cope with childcare problems and household chores.
Just Like My Dad by David Melling (Hodder) is an affectionate and amusing tribute to the father-child relationship, about a young lion cub who looks up to and loves his dad, and wants to grow up to be just like him.
Dear Daddy by Philippe Dupasquier (Andersen Press) deals with the absence of a father who is working away at sea. Seen through the eyes of the young daughter he has left behind, it sensitively portrays her feelings of loss, and how keeping in touch and looking forward to being together again help to make it bearable. Ideal for fathers and children who live apart.
Also part of the Fathers' Week initiative is the Bring Your Dad to School Day, on 18 June. The idea is for dads to do the school run and become involved in a school event such as assembly, classroom visits, Dads' Breakfast or Evening, Storytime or Art Show.
MORE INFORMATION
For details of Fathers' Story Week and Bring Your Dad To School Day and to sign up for free resources, session plans and activity ideas, visit www.fathersstoryweek.org