Father Facts for Kids

A father with a child

A father (also known as dad or daddy) is a male parent. Most people are born with both a mother and a father. A father helps to create a new life. The father of your husband or wife is called your father-in-law. Fathers play a special role in determining if a child will be a boy or a girl. This happens through tiny cells called sperm, which carry either an X or a Y chromosome. An X chromosome leads to a girl, and a Y chromosome leads to a boy.

The Role of Fathers in Families
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The Role of Fathers in Families

A father and child in Dhaka, Bangladesh

For a long time, fathers were often seen as the "secondary" parent, meaning they were not the main caregiver. However, this idea is changing! More and more fathers are now becoming the main caregivers for their children. This can happen when mothers go to work, or in families where there is only one parent, or in families with two male parents.

Fatherhood in Western Countries

A father and his children in Florida, United States

In Western countries, the traditional idea of a married father as the only person earning money for the family is also changing. How fatherhood is seen in society is very important for the well-being of both fathers and their children. For example, in the United States, about 16% of single parents in 2013 were men.

Why Fathers are Important

Fathers who are actively involved in their children's lives offer unique support as children grow up. This involvement also has a positive effect on the fathers themselves. When fathers or father-figures are active in a child's life, it can help reduce behavior and emotional problems in young people.

More involvement from a father can also help a child:

Have better social skills.
Do better in school.
Have stronger relationships when they become adults.
Be more curious about the world.
Develop better problem-solving skills.

Children who grow up with a father often feel more confident in their thinking and physical abilities than children who do not. Also, mothers who raise children together with a father often report having fewer disagreements with their child.

Who is a Father-Figure?

A father-figure is not always a child's biological father (the person who helped create them). Some children might have a biological father, as well as a step-father or a nurturing father (someone who acts like a father). When a child is conceived using sperm from a donor, the donor is the "biological father" of the child.