Fathers roles in ECD
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a fundamental right of every child. It aims at holistic development of a child which constitutes of physical, social, emotional, cognitive, language and intellectual development. The early development of a child as such, however, does not take place on its own. It requires a deliberate efforts of his/her family members particularly parents. Rearing and caring, nurturing, playing, singing, recreation, learning, healthy habit and nutrition, etc. are some major areas in which the role of parents remains indispensible. The UN Agencies and International Non-Governmental Organizations such as UNICEF and SCI have also maintained the essential roles of parents in the effective implementation of ECD programs in Nepal (UNICEF, 2011; SCI, 2003). In spite of the commitment of these documents it is still not explicitly explored how fathers understand, explain and participate in the ECD practices; and how their participation influences the rearing, caring and development of their children. In this context, National Setogrurans Child Development Services with the support of Save the Children International (SCI) conducted a study entitled “Fathers' Role in ECD”. The purpose of the study was to explore the understandings and perception of fathers towards ECD and their own involvement in it. It also aimed at identifying the major areas of ECD where father can essentially participate and play effective roles for the proper growth and development of children in their early age. The study was conducted in two districts (Siraha and Udaypur). It included 63 children, 60 fathers, 30 mothers and 16 facilitators from 16 different ECD centres.
The study basically followed qualitative research design. However, to some extent it also used quantitative methods. It used interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to collect necessary qualitative data and information. Survey forms were also used to collect the data on social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of children. The quantitative data and information were used to substantiate the qualitative information. The data were discussed, analyzed and interpreted descriptively to draw the results of the study.
The fathers under this study understood ECD in terms of physical (lifting head, crawling, catching things and playing with them), cognitive (matching the time and activities like eating, sleeping, going to ECD centers), early literacy (reading and writing), and formation of habits. The fathers involvement in the early care and development of their children has largely been controlled by a number of factors like socio-cultural tradition, family economy, fathers' occupation, parents role performance in the family, type of the family etc. Fathers included in the study believed that mother’s care is more important than the father’s care for a child’s proper development. They believed that the mother’s care includes full of love, affection, comfort, tender, delicate and pleasant, which is more important for a child’s development. They also expressed that they do not possess the skills and patience required for the effective care of their children, to the extent, which the child's mother does. They also expressed themselves weaker in comparison to the mothers in terms of establishing deeper level of attachment with children. For these reasons, they believed that their involvement would not keep any visible meaning at the early care and development of their children. Fathers who were involved in manual work and those who held office works on paid salary were not found adequately involved in the activities related to early care and development of their children due to the lack of time available for them. Thus, the poor, non-poor, rural and urban fathers in the study sites were found to have very little concern for early care and development of child. For some fathers, their involvement in early development of their children is redundant and unproductive. For some others, child care is such an unimportant and negligible part of family activity for which mother at home is sufficient to deal with; and that spending fathers' potential time in the same work is ridiculous. According to some other fathers early development of children is so automatic and casual that there is no need for fathers to make a deliberate plan and put efforts.
The perception of fathers in joint family in this study site was governed by the massive involvement of the other family members in the early care and development of child. A child in joint family has an opportunity to interact, play and work with their siblings, grandparents, uncle and aunts. In such families, grandfathers often were found playing the role of fathers in early care and development of children. In this context, fathers' involvement was not taken-for-granted.
Involvement of fathers in child's health, nutrition, play and recreational activity and also interaction and early stimulation was found somehow superficial. Fathers were found taking their children to hospital in case of severe sickness. They have a strong feeling that the mothers are not good enough for such a task.
The children enjoyed the same food which the adult generally had in the family. Fathers did not show their interest to play with children. But the fathers in urban areas bought readymade play materials for their children and fathers in rural area were found preparing play materials from the locally available materials for their children. Due to the lack of time available for the fathers they were found giving a very little time in interacting with children. In some families interaction with children was not given due importance.
Download