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Show Hospital suggests guidelines for fathers Although there is a national trend for fathers to spend more time participating in the raising of their children, one study shows that the average father spends 38 seconds a day interacting with the baby, 26 minutes with children under five, and only 15 minutes a day with children ages 6-16. As Father's Day approaches, time may not only be spent reflecting and remembering, but in evaluating your own performance as a father. The Behavioral Health Unit at American Fork Hospital suggests the following guidelines for consideration. Listen to your children -- help them sort through the grain and chaff of what they think, feel and experience. Listening is a powerful way for you to communicate your love to them. Spend one-on-one time with each child, if only for a few minutes, at least once a week. Go for a walk or an ice cream and create memories for life. Be firm and kind in your discipline. Use natural and logical consequences for behavior, and always follow through in a consistent con-sistent and kind manner. Listen to your children's mother and get to know her heart. If you disagree about a method of discipline, disagree in private. Learn that there are three kinds of problems: those that can be discussed by mom and dad in front of the kids, those that can be discussed with the kids in a family counsel, and those that need to be discussed by mom and dad alone. Allow your kids the chance to explore who they are and to understand un-derstand the right they have to be themselves. Help around the house and take your turn with the chores. Another study shows that the average husband spends V2 hours per day helping around the house, under the wife's direction. Do some things on your own initiative. Become aware of what your own needs are. Think about the kind of fathering you had. Continue the good parts with your children and work through the bad. (Suggestions adapted from Jack Stone). If you have any additional questions or concerns, call the Behavioral Health Unit at American Fork Hospital at 756-4357. |