Page 28 - IB August 2020

Fathers, let’s think of the kids

This is a strange and
stressful period that we are
living through, and although
we have been relatively lucky
in Aotearoa and in the Pacific
Islands compared to many
other parts of the world, many
of our families are struggling
during this global pandemic
- with loss of income, cut off
from or worry about relatives
overseas, and even just coping
with the fear of Covid-19
itself.
Given this current situation,
how as fathers can we do
the best for our families, and
particularly our children,
through all of this?
Research from the Pacific
Islands Families Study at AUT
tells us about one thing that
is crucial: We need to spend
quality time with our children
and be involved in their lives.
Researchers found that
young Pacific children exhibit
and develop more positive
behaviours and attitudes when
they have involved fathers.
This research was the topic
of the Kiribati Language
Week instalment of AUT’s
Pacific language video series
for 2020.
At 6-years-old, behavioural
differences were examined
amongst children in the PIF
Study.
Researchers observed most
fathers in the study were
actively involved in their
kids’ lives, and these children
were found less likely to have
emotional difficulty and to
exhibit aggression.
With the world in turmoil it
could be easy to forget what
for many of us is common
sense; but this research
reminds us that taking an
interest in our children is important, no matter what’s happening in involved with their children were themselves more likely to make
the world. healthy choices as role models for their kids – such as, giving up or
Whether this is simply taking care of them, being engaged with reducing their smoking or alcohol intake.
sports and extra-curricular activities or helping them with their And for those families who don’t have a dad in the home for
homework. Every action counts. whatever reason, don’t despair.
It can be hard to find the time to do this in a world that demands What’s most important is that children have a father-figure or role-
so much of us, let alone find time to connect face to face with our model involved in their lives, someone for them to look up to and
children when our digital lives are so demanding, but the benefits are trust.
huge - not just for them but for us too as dads. Associate Professor El-Shadan Tautolo is Director of the Pacific
For example, our research also found that Pacific fathers who were Islands Families Study at the Auckland University of Technology.

28 Islands Business, August 2020