The Fathering Project News

Children’s mental health is shaped every day by the relationships around them — and dads play a bigger role than many realise. When fathers are emotionally available, attentive and supportive, kids feel safer, more confident, and better equipped to handle life’s ups and downs.

Be a Mental Health Role Model

Show your child that it’s okay to talk about feelings and to ask for help when things feel tough. Your openness teaches them that emotions aren’t something to hide, but something to understand and work through.​​​​

Try this: At the end of the day, ask your child: “What’s one good thing that happened today, and one tricky thing?” Listen closely, validate their feelings, and share your own too. This builds trust and helps them learn healthy coping habits.