We all know that the closeness of the father is beneficial for the child's development, because a father who cares about the needs of his son, accompanies him and raises him with love becomes a fundamental reference in his life.
Although there is no need for scientific confirmation to assert it, it is interesting to know the research that arises on the subject. A study conducted by the University of Concordia in Canada ensures that parents who are actively involved in raising their children can help them be smarter and have better behavior.
No one doubts the importance of maternal attachment during childhood, but children also need the father. According to the study authors, regardless of whether the children lived with their parents or not, compared to other children with absent parents, children of active parents had less behavioral problems and greater intellectual capacity during their early and middle childhood.
They also point out that girls seem to be the most affected by parental absence. Girls whose parents had been absent during half of their childhood had significantly higher levels of emotional problems at school than girls whose parents had been present.
In spite of everything, this does not mean that children who grow up without a father will have problems. As the co-author of the study highlights, “Although our study examined the important role of parents in the development of their children, children without the presence of parents are not necessarily doing badly”.
Today, there are many homes in which the biological parents are absent and the care of the mother and other relatives are perfectly valid alternatives to raise a healthy child in all aspects.
But the truth is that father's closeness during childhood, by sharing hours of games, providing emotional support and promoting self-esteem, It is enormously beneficial for the child's development.
