august 2009  

It is a wise father that knows his own child (William Shakespeare)

If a son is uneducated, his dad is to blame (Chinese Proverb)

The father of five children won a toy in a raffle.
He called his children together to choose which one should have the present.
"Who's the most obedient?" he asked.
"Who never talks back to mum? and
"Who does everything mum says?"
Five small voices replied:" Okay daddy! You get the toy!"
 

As you may have guessed from the introduction, I thought that it was high time that we took another visit to that sadly under-represented, under-utilised and often misunderstood group in educational and early years settings:

Dads!

In a previous blog (September 2008) I offered the research and reasoning behind engaging dads in their children's education and it cannot be denied that an interested, involved and enthusiastic father can make a world of difference to a child's achievement and life-chances.   The recent findings (2009) from the Joseph Rowntree Report: Understanding Fathering; Masculinity, Diversity and Change suggests that the father's role in childcare is increasing, although the largest amount of time fathers spend with children is on leisure and play activities at home.

Now this will not come as a huge surprise to most of us that men spend a greater part of their childcare role participating in leisure and play activities.  But faced with this data, I thought that this month's blog should explore the ways in which professionals could tap into this focus on play to engage dads in their child's learning.   And just as importantly, offer some ideas of how dads can engage more with their children in their learning and play; as one cannot be taken in isolation from the other. 

My initial Google search (other search engines are available) came up absolute trumps when it directed my to the web site:

 www.dadscando.com

Ok, it costs a wee bit to subscribe to the web site (£9.95 per year) but it gives some fabulous ideas for recipes, making things and doing things for dads and children.  I particularly liked the idea of putting a cheap rubber insect in the liquid soap bottle to encourage children to wash their grubby hands. The site is brilliant for signposting to all dads (or father's group coordinators), but it's particularly good for single fathers who may be struggling to think of an alternative to McDonalds (please note that other fast-food outlets are available) and Saturday Special Kid's Cinema (£1.50 each for a kids club ticket and accompanying parent at the Fareham Apollo).  I've copied some examples of the fantastic 'making things' ideas for dads to do with their children below:

More craft ideas (especially for father's and grandparent's day) can be found at:

Another excellent network and information site for fathers can be found at: www.dadstalk.co.uk.  I was particularly attracted to the 'pubtalk' feature, and although there is no free beer, and it doesn't have that pungent aroma of old fag ends, cheese and onion crisps and wet dog, there is a useful online discussion forum where father's can raise burning issues. 

The closest thing to an online 'lads mag', just for dads, can be found at: www.dads-space.com 

I think they must have been reading my July Blog (wishful thinking) because this month's magazine is all about the recession. 

There are articles about home repossession and money worries, a video interview with dads about how the recession is affecting them and a chance to join the discussion forum.  And as with all magazines, there are surveys to fill in and prizes to win including an i-pod nano.

Don't forget that you can also direct families (and not just dads) who need additional advice and support to the Parentline Plus web site &  Helpline at http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/) and the excellent National Debtline web site & helpline at http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

Another important development that can be signposted to your single dads is the new Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline on

I now hope that with the recent addition of our own Children's Centre Family Support Workers and our network of Parent Support Advisers and Children's Services Family Workers (there are many others proving this support and information role, so please accept my apologies for not listing you all),  hopefully we can prevent any family falling through our local support safety net.

Our local SureStart Children's Centres across the borough are exploring ways of working with dads, especially through family learning.  Oak Meadow and Strawberry Meadow Children's Centre to the North East of the town have a fabulous offer of Saturday workshops for dads, granddads, uncles and male carers and children to attend together this autumn term.  Either pop into the centre to pick up a new brochure or take a visit to the dads' page at:

www.oakmeadowchildrenscentre.co.uk

Also take a look at my News Page for details of a special Saturday Halloween Breakfast taking place on 31st October for male carers at Keepsake Children's Centre in Portchester. 

Moving onto a more formal style of web site - The Institute of Civil Society produces discussion papers and orderable copies (30 per school) of a free magazine titled: "Does Marriage Matter?" The resources can be used to support PHSE and classroom discussion and debate sessions.  Those of you who know me may not be surprised that I was a very keen and passionate speaker at my junior school debate club, so I quite enjoy stumbling upon these materials to spark creative debate in young minds.

You can view the interesting and fully referenced debate paper "Do Fathers Matter?" by following the relevant link below:

http://www.civitas.org.uk/schools/index.php

Which leads me to a very important date to pop into you diary: 

Monday 19 - Sunday 25 October 2009 is Parents' Week

National Parents' Week rather oddly coincides this year with National Energy Saving Week, National Banking Week and National Infection Prevention Week.  In recognition of all these celebrations, I am considering sending the kids to their dad, then preserving energy, saving money and preventing infections by simply remaining in bed all week!

Joking aside, our fantastic team of Parent Support Advisers (including our new kid on the block, Ali Rowe, the Cams Hill cluster PSA) have put their heads together and planned a whole series of parent/carer drop-in sessions throughout this week.  The timetable for these has now been finalised and as soon as I have a glossy poster advertising these events, then it will be posted online on my News Page and sent via e-mail to all of our stakeholders. 

In addition to the more targeted services, don't forget to keep checking back to the News Page on the Fareham Extended Services web site for inexpensive or free activities for signposting to your families.  Fareham Library, Westbury Manor Museum and Fort Nelson often offer free family activities at the weekend or during the holidays.  As the dark nights are now drawing in, borrowing library books to read together, curling up in front of a family DVD (also available to borrow inexpensively from your local library) and autumn nature walks and conker hunts are always a classic way of spending an inexpensive autumn day with the children.   My best kept secret is the amazing deals that can be found for taking children to London on the train or coach.  For instance my most recent purchase being three return tickets to London in the October half-term for the princely cost of £6.00!!

To book yourself a half-term bargain to the 'big smoke' visit:

www.megabus.com

Also included on my News page is the annual conker competition being run by our friends at Holly Hill.  To see more details about this year's 'battle' and for details of how to book your place, then please take a visit to: http://www.friendsofhollyhill.org.uk. 

The Hampshire Culture All site also has lots of special offers for attractions in Hampshire.  How about buy one ticket get one ticket free to Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower or 15% discount at the Blue Reef Aquarium?  Simply print off your vouchers and present them on the day at your chosen activity (unless advised to pre-book).  Click the Culture All logo below to go directly to the site:

For schools who may be interested in developing their family learning (especially if you are looking to engage with your 'outdoorsy' dads), or perhaps setting up a bespoke ecological project, then I would be more than happy to put you into contact with our colleagues at Groundwork Solent. 

Examples of activities could range from bug hunting to shelter building, survival techniques to pond dipping, building bird boxes to delivering a complete Ecochallenge to an entire year group.  Rather than going into lots of detail here, please take a visit to the Groundwork Solent web site to see some of the examples of previous projects, and then feel free to contact me if you have an idea for a project.

Groundwork Solent

Sadly I can't book (or afford) Bear Grylls for delivering survival challenges; but to make up for it (ladies) I thought I'd include a photo especially for you. 

Please remember however that many of these challenge and adventure projects are already taking place via your local Scout and Guide groups and our young people can also get involved with the Duke of Edingburgh Award, or the local Army Cadet force.  There are plenty of opportunities out there for teenagers if they know where to look.  So please help promote and signpost these brilliant groups, many of whom are run entirely by volunteers, and at minimal expense to young people and their families.

On the other hand, for volunteer dads who are looking to gain a sports coaching qualification, or for qualified coaches looking for groups who need their expertise to help deliver extended school activities, please pay a visit to:

www.coachinghampshire.co.uk

So that brings me to the end of my special dad's blog.  I hope that I may have given you some inspiration and ideas for working with this incredibly important group who can exert such a huge influence on the outcomes of children and young people?  It can't be forgotten that one day those grubby-faced, cheeky little boys will be dads too!  If you require help to get a plan off the ground please get in contact; for instance, you may have an easily achievable plan to add a dad's space on your own web site, or you are thinking of popping a dad's corner on your school or community newsletter to engage with your dads...you may even be thinking more ambitious plans to set up a dad's activity or support group? 

For the top 10 tips for engaging with dads take a visit to the Campaign For Learning Web Site.  You are also welcome to download the DCSF Booklet: Engaging Fathers: involving parents, raising achievement for more ideas.  My personal favourite is organising a special after-school cookery session for dads to learn how to make a BIG chocolate Mother's Day cake (or it could be a special breakfast of course!)

Whatever you are planning then please feel free to get in touch - and even if I haven't got all of the answers - I probably know a man who has!!

I shall bid you farewell and leave you this month with this final thought:

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters
 

(George Herbert)