Children reared in single-parent families may suffer from greater depression and emotional distress, may exhibit greater behavioral and learning difficulties in school, and may be forced to take on adult responsibilities at an early age. These risk factors can be moderated when single- parent families have increased income, close ties with family, friends, and community, and when children have a positive relationship with the absent parent as well as the resident parent. In essence, whether the outcome is cognitive development, sex-role development, or psychological development, kids do better when their relationship with Dad is close and warm, regardless of whether Dad lives with them or not. Fathers are often seen as playmates. Fathers are more likely to initiate rough and tumble play.
Children prefer dad as a play partner, but more often go to mom in stressful situations.
Fathers are equally as capable as mothers of caretaking, demonstrating competence, and being sensitive to a child's needs. Fathers, like mothers, pick up on the meaning of an infant's cry and react appropriately. Fathers are actually better at keeping a baby's attention. Observed caregiving differences between mothers and fathers are believed to be due to training and experience, not to any innate qualities mothers have over fathers. Children whose fathers were actively involved with them during the first eight weeks of life managed stress better as school-agers.