Scorning those "helicopter parents" who hover over a child's every task, many fathers have migrated to a more hands-off approach in recent years. Practiced in moderation, this long-distance oversight is sometimes called "consequences parenting" for its intent of purposely allowing kids to fail when they make mistakes. If a kid forgets to pack their cleats, they'll simply … [Read more...] about Three questions to reveal whether you are a free-range parent
Three ways to teach the romantic side of the birds and the bees
Talk with your child about the birds and the bees, and you can cover the basic points of puberty and reproduction in five or 10 minutes. But what about the mysteries of romance? Poets have spent entire careers crafting perfect sonnets to describe the agonies and ecstasies of love, from the bitter resentment of being dumped to the flutter in your stomach when your crush first … [Read more...] about Three ways to teach the romantic side of the birds and the bees
Pro dads can pull the plug on baby smartphones
Browse any online retailer for children's toys, and you will soon come across a range of products that encourage fathers to outfit children with their own tiny smartphones and laptops. Here are three examples, engineered for digital entertainment at any time of day: One item from Fisher Price upgrades the classic bouncy cradle by adding a frame attachment to hold a … [Read more...] about Pro dads can pull the plug on baby smartphones
A call for balance in the practice of co-sleeping
Many new parents have experienced the joy of falling asleep on the couch with an infant nestled on their chest. The baby drools happily as he or she rides the cycle of inhalation and exhalation, and a spouse snaps clandestine photos. The system works beautifully for a quick nap, but experienced dads can testify that this is no way to catch a full night's sleep. The phrase … [Read more...] about A call for balance in the practice of co-sleeping
No, you shouldn’t correct your kid’s spelling mistakes
It was the third Sunday in June when I opened an envelope to discover one of the sweetest notes I had ever received. Next to a curly-haired stick figure with a fiendish grin was scrawled a note: "Happy Phothersday DADDY." Father's Day! My brilliant editor's brain instantly translated the terrible spelling with all the alacrity of British code-breakers during World War … [Read more...] about No, you shouldn’t correct your kid’s spelling mistakes