[Solved] Should Dads understand child development?

Totally yes - i think we should suggest an article or something like this for the site..... I remember chatting with a dad who hadn't seen his son since birth... he had a contact visit but the child was now 6 months... i had a little understanding of child development and we talked about the sort of games he might play....

So like a 6 month old doesn't yet have 'object permanence' - so basically if you show them something cover it up and then reveal it again the kid will go wild as they don't realise it was always there.... great!! Of course after a few beers most blokes behave in similar way - regression i think they call it 🙂

Thing is though - where do you learn this stuff (and how many men would actually admit to wanting to know about it??)

Ahhhh, my wife does all the reading ... seriously I can't keep up, so I just ask her! 😀

If she didn't read up that would be different - I would do what I need to do

I have just seen Amy winehouse pictures on MSN That is definitely what sells news. A haggered and thin looking young woman who will likely die before she reaches the end of her twenties. Sounds harsh? The last time I checked her father spoke in the TV of how supportive they are as parents and the aspects of her dangerousness. That for you is the complexity behind understanding your own child . On the one hand you want to nuture them and on the other they are old enough to look after themesleves especially with the fame that goes with it. Unfortunately the media will continue to hound her until she dies mark my word. So what is the solution............Lets look at the extremes for her father to kill her before the media does? I bet you will say are you nuts even thinking along that line. Ok so maybe that is illegal and as a matter of fact crazy. How about her father getting an injunction for the press to stay clear of her. Well that is difficult because Amy is of age and would not want her father to intefere in her private life and case law will suggest that injunction can only be effective in terms of what you call actual proof of events. Amy herself may be susceptible to wreckless behaviour that is why fathers' should appreciate their children development not necessarily assume that they know it all. Physical, social and in particular emotional values are not measurable so as a father you can only be supportive you are not meant to and will probably not know at least not in depth what goes through a child's mind.

koka

I do most of the reading for us about child development, but share everything I read. Found it all very interesting and it keeps us sane about how they are developing

Hi,
I would feel absolutely helpless if I didn't have just enough knowledge.
I need to have a gut feeling about things I do - and that obviously includes my little ones.

I think one of the biggest reasons to have an understanding of standard/average development is to be able to put objective pressure onto professionals so they do their job and take appropriate action for your little one.
eg, health visitor, doctor, school, physiotherapist ......

From another angle - Where have others managed to find useful and straitforward info about development.

I think one useful booklet given to me by the health visitor was by the NHS and called .....
"Birth to five"
and is given to first time mothers.
Contents: first weeks; how your child will grow; learning and playing; habits and behaviour; feeding your child; illness and accidents; your own life; your services; rights & benefits; useful organisations.

... ooh look..... I did a google on: NHS "birth to five"
it is available online to download !!!!
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4135756

/have fun
orange

Looks like there is an article on child development on the front page of Dad talk today. Liked the ideas for play by age group - wish I had known some of this my kids were little. Its only since I split with my wife and had to have them alone that I realised how little I knew what to 'do' with them.

Wonder when this article will continue & look at older age ranges?

... and I found myself reading the 0 to 6 months one last night - I didn't realise it was new.
I found the ideas were very practical
/j

Having read this article, and reflected, one addition I thought about was the importance enjoying eachother's time together because from the tiddler's point of view, they learn that 'I' am enjoyable to be with.

Good point Mr O.

Just of your information there are more articles to come in this series, which will take you right up to 10 year olds.

What this space.

Buzz