Fathers’ role in infant development ‘crucial’

CHILDREN are more likely to have development problems if their fathers do not spend enough time with them when they are young, new research claims.

Yesterday’s report from Britain’s Equal Opportunities Commission found emotional and behavioural problems were more common by the age of three if fathers did not take time off work after the child’s birth, or did not use flexible working to be more involved in the youngster’s upbringing.

However it pointed to an economic divide, with poorer fathers less likely to take time off work.

The study involved 19,000 children born in 2000 and 2001, and the publishers say it is the first to confirm the significant impact fathers have if they are closely involved when the child is small.

And it unearthed no evidence to suggest a mother’s employment influences development problems in three-year-olds.

This conflicts with data published in 2005 suggesting young children fare better when cared for by their mothers than those looked after in nurseries or by relatives. Previous studies have also claimed that babies left with their grandparents become slower learners at school.

But Professor Shirley Dex, who was involved with the latest survey, said children cared for by grandparents or their fathers did not have worse development problems than three-year-olds generally. Prof Dex said: “We measured developmental problems — such as emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, peer problems, and social problems — when children were three. By the age of three those who went to formal childcare at nine or 10 months were less likely to show development problems compared to children who were looked after in other ways. “So having formal childcare was associated with fewer problems.”