Kids Who Spend Time with Their Fathers Have a Higher IQ

Through the eyes of a child, Daddy is someone they turn to when it comes to fun activities and making sense of important life lessons, skills and values.

Thanks to an increasing number of fathers being more involved in parenting these days, kids in most households get to spend quality time with dad regularly. This has proven to spur wonderful results when it comes to the development of children while growing up, according to a study conducted by academics at the University of Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Dads do matter

The 2008 study involved more than 11,000 British men and women born in 1958. The mothers of the subjects were asked how often the father of their child spent time doing activities with them, such as reading, organising outings and general “quality time”.

Through the findings, researchers found that children whose fathers spent more time with them had a higher IQ and were more socially mobile than those who lacked fatherly involvement while growing up. It was also interesting to note that the differences were still noticeable later on in life.

Dr Daniel Nettle who led the research affirmed to The Telegraph: “What was surprising about this research was the real sizeable difference in the progress of children who benefited from paternal interest and how thirty years later, people whose dads were involved are more upwardly mobile.”

“The data suggest that having a second adult involved during childhood produces benefits in terms of skills and abilities that endure throughout adult life.”

In 2012, Ronald Rohner, the director of the Center for the Study of Interpersonal Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut, reviewed the findings of this study and found out that in most cases, fathers have more influence on their kids’ development.

“Knowing that kids feel loved by their father is a better predictor of young adults’ sense of well-being, of happiness, of life satisfaction,” Rohner commented.

What are some activities which dads can enjoy with their children? Head over to the next page for some ideas.

 

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