Holding specially designed support groups for dads encourages them to focus on common issues of importance to them. Warm greetings . Nothing breaks the ice like a warm welcome. Greet fathers by name when they attend school events, and tell them how glad you are to see them. Recognize children s progress .
All parents love to hear good news about their children.
Whether fathers are visiting school or a center for regularly scheduled meetings, or because their child is having some particular problem, find something positive to say about their child s progress. Reinforce fathers contributions . All parents want to know and rarely hear that they are contributing to their children s education. If you recognize the contribution a father is making to his child s learning, he will be more likely to want to return. Develop strategies and programs that encourage older fathers to mentor young fathers and young fathers to mentor first-time fathers.