ABU DHABI// Knowing where to turn for advice on how to be a good parent can be a difficult proposition for new fathers, particularly Emiratis.
Online forums and websites offering maternal advice to women are readily available at the click of a button, but where can men turn if they have questions or doubts about their role in the family unit?
That was a question many fathers wanted answered at a workshop in Abu Dhabi hosted by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation.
The foundation’s aim is to support the next generation of Emiratis to lead the country’s growth and development.
At the two-day workshop, more than 50 dads said juggling long work hours with the time needed to offer a stable and balanced upbringing for young children was becoming harder than ever.
“Many of the men felt like pioneers,” said Dr Kyle Pruett, a clinician, author, and a director of medical studies at the Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Centre.
“They have a very different life to their fathers, who were often home during the day as opposed to the long working hours in modern life. As a result, many now feel more distant from their children.
But a busy father does not always mean an absent father. It is not about the number of hours they spend with children that is important, but the quality of that time.
“The men said the workshop was the only chance they had to talk about being a father, even within their own families. It is not often discussed, so that can make fathers feel isolated.”
Dr Pruett said children deprived of time with male family role models often have more difficulty in school and managing impulsive behaviour. They can also have challenges reading the social rules of the world around them,
The workshop Fathers’ Unique Role in Childrearing was part of the foundation’s parenting programme and early childhood development initiative.
Discussions introduced key principles of child development and behaviour, offered practical information and techniques for dealing effectively with young children, particularly for Emiratis.
It recognised the unique pressures fathers face juggling work and family commitments, and addressed real-life challenges through innovative ideas to make the best use of time with their children.
Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, chief executive officer of Tawazun Economic Council and Tawazun Holding, lead a question and answer session and shared his parenting experiences.
“It was an active and lively discussion,” said Dr Pruett.
“Things on their minds included how to prepare children for this rapidly changing world when we are in what feels like a revolution in our families. The idea of being fully present when you are with your children was another key area. Technology has had a big impact on parenting. It is important parents turn off their smartphones and listen to the child. The best conversations are the ones where the child is doing most of the talking.”
nwebster@thenational.ae