Padres muy Padres (Very Cool Dads)
What do we have in mind when we talk about children-caregivers ties? Most likely, we will be thinking about a mother hugging and taking care of her children. But fathers also play a fundamental and central role in childrearing and should be included in programs that aim to improve the quality of home interactions. In order to overcome the barriers associated with the work commitments of many fathers in Mexico, the Padres muy Padres program takes the training sessions to low-income fathers’ worksites. This initiative is innovative in the sense that it adapts to working fathers’ needs and includes their opinions in the support material it has developed to promote their participation in childrearing.
Problematic
While we all know that interactions between adults (mothers and fathers) are essential for the proper development of children, childcare and parenting have traditionally been considered a mothers-only task. This trend is strong not just in Mexico but also in most countries in the world. Getting the fathers involved demands innovative strategies that take family and work dynamics into account; initiatives that challenge stereotypes and roles traditionally assigned to women –who are typically associated with childcare and rearing as well as housekeeping– and men, who are usually considered the breadwinners who spend more time away from home and their children.
Solution
But what if fathers received childcare tutoring at the workplace? This program does just that: it delivers training sessions and material (such as leaflets and podcasts) to their working sites in a bid to co-create tools with fathers so they feel both supported and comfortable. It also aims to generate an environment where peer networks can flourish. This makes fathers feel empowered to take a more active role in childcare and rearing. Being an affectionate dad who is close to his children is being a very cool dad. Or, as they say in Mexico, un padre muy padre.
Evaluation and Impact
No information is available.