An Australian Institute of Family Studies survey of Mums and dads found….

a)     Australian family life was still highly gender-based

b)     With fathers providing two-thirds of the family income when children were aged eight or nine and even more when they were babies.

c)      Fathers spent little time alone with their children compared to mothers. But while the study confirms some common observations

d)     It dispels the idea that fathers are just good for play and shirk the hard work.

Aussie dads….

• Spent only 38 minutes a day alone with children aged under one, and 55 minutes with eight- to nine-year-olds, much less than mothers.
• Time was ”not insignificant” and provided much potential to build relationships.
• Were around when children were eating, getting bathed, and while they were travelling, and helped with the personal care at least a few times a week.
• Yet….Only 41 per cent of fathers of children under the age of one changed a nappy.
• …..When compared with mothers they were less warm, less consistent, and less overprotective but three-quarters rated themselves as being a ”better than average” or ”very good” parent.
• Who were more involved when their children were infants…..were more involved eight or nine years later.

It’s QUALITY not QUANTITY, so don’t feel too bad!!!!

Kids’ emotional well-being or learning outcomes were not a function of time spent with the kids….The research found it was the quality of the interaction was more important.

Dads  had a positive influence if they had a warm parenting style and had a happy relationship with their partner.

NO SURPRISES>>>>>Mums claim they do more….60% of mums thought they did ”more or much more” than their fair share of domestic work and childcare.

STILL NO MORE SURPRSIES…dads thought their own contribution was ”fair”, BUT wives usually disagreed

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