Fatherhood. What does it look like in today’s culture? Recently, Viacom conducted major research to examine the lives of fathers around the world. Here’s what they found.
Modern dads are forming a new identity for themselves by rejecting traditional parenting roles.
Eighty percent of dads want to be better fathers for their kids than their own dads were to them.
Instead of being seen as detached rule enforcers, modern dads want to be seen as supportive and emotionally involved figures. They are communicating and engaging head on about sensitive topics.
Fathers are also monitoring their own physical and mental well-being. Compared to single men without children, today’s modern dads are 42 percent more likely to have regular check-ups, 18 percent more likely to take supplements, and 9 percent more likely to eat healthy.
Modern fathers are looking for guidance on being a good father. Studies show that 50 percent of fathers in America want to be a better father. But the truth is, the same support and resources for fathers is less than what is available for mothers. Modern fathers are looking for help. Forty-four percent of modern fathers believe that being a good father is the single most important thing in their life.
Modern fathers are looking for ways to have more time with their kids. Forty-five percent of fathers feel frustrated about not being able to spend more time with their kids. The good news is this: Modern fathers spend an average of three more hours a day with their kids on weekdays and two hours more on the weekends than fathers did 10 years ago.
This data presents a great opportunity for churches to influence fathers and help them become a spiritual leader for their children.
Fathers are looking for help. Your ministry has a wide open door to speak into the lives of fathers. Think about ways you can directly influence fathers. Provide a parenting class designed for fathers.
Use Milestone classes to give them practical ways to lead their family spiritually.
Communicate with fathers using modern avenues. Facebook. Email. Instagram. Texting.
Provide events for fathers and their children. Father-son cookouts. Family camp. Father-daughter dances.
Invest in fathers by teaching them how to be great fathers. What is your role as a father based on God’s Word? What parenting style should you use with your kids? How do you raise your kids to follow Jesus? How do you connect with your child on a daily basis? How do you parent through the different stages of your child growing up.
Call fathers up to be the spiritual leader of their home. All too often, mothers have to take this responsibility because the father is not stepping up.
More than ever, we need godly men who will lead their families spiritually. Let’s be faithful to encourage and equip fathers to do just that.
This article originally appeared here.
