“If America’s Dads got as involved as America’s Moms in their children’s education, America’s children would be studying harder and getting a lot more A’s. Dads make a powerful difference in defining expectations and challenging children to do their best.”
– Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, 1997
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Children whose fathers were highly involved in their schools were more likely to do well academically.
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Children whose fathers were more involved in their care tended to have fewer teacher reports of “acting out” behavior.
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Students living in father-absent homes are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school.
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Children with “hands-on” fathers are much less likely to use drugs than children with “hands-off” or absent fathers.
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Teens with parents who are in the home are less likely to try alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana.
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The likelihood that a young male will engage in criminal activity doubles if he is raised without a father.
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Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse.
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Children in father-absent homes are five times more likely to be poor.
Compiled using information from the following source:
Horn, Wade F. Ph.D. and Tom Sylvester. 2002. “Father Facts Fourth Edition”. National Fatherhood Initiative.