Fathers urged to be involved in children’s lives

Teddy Bear Foundation’s Director, Dr Shaheda Omar, says the presence of a father in a child’s life is important for raising thriving minors who can relate positively to others in society.

Omar’s remarks come as the country celebrates Father’s Day and Youth Day.

“Although both parents are important in a child’s life, the child learns best by observational theory. By observing how the significant adult male role model responds to the adult female role model and how this male model responds to the child themselves, as well as others, helps the child identify positively with both parents and helps them appreciate the presence of an adult male figure,” says Dr Omar.

According to Stats SA’s 2023 figures, 42% of children in the country live with their mothers – while 21% others don’t know either parent.

Omars says the impact that fatherlessness has on children is of great concern.

She says children who are reared without fathers tend to develop a void in their lives, resulting in loss of identity and making it challenging for them to know where they belong in society.

“Such children often end up gravitating towards older people even in intimacy, in order to find a sense of comfort, security and belonging,” she adds.

The child rights activist believes there are steps that father figures can take to better handle their relationships with their children.

“I think it’s important for fathers to be emotionally available, as solely being physically present in a child’s life, isn’t’ sufficient. The fact that the child knows that they can turn to a reliable and dependable father figure when faced with challenges or even when they are happy, is an imperative factor in rearing thriving kids,” says Omar.

She says encouraging dialogue with children by adult male figures is also important within a father-child relationship. Written by Odirile Rabolao