My father knew what was worth having and provided us with an ideal lifestyle. Our old weatherboard house was no showplace, but it was full of contentment, laughter and security.
Roland Foster
From my own experience growing up in a fractured family, good relationships with both family and friends are critical for health, wellbeing and success.
Warwick Marsh
For Squish in particular, the arrival of number two will be a game-changer. Here are three things she has to look forward to — three things that will change her life for the better.
Kurt Mahlburg
Relationships thrive when trust is strong. But how do we build it in the first instance, and then recover it if we’ve lost it? Here are three tips to help you build trust and hold on to it.
Byron and Francine Pirola
Warren Farrell, known for his provocative insights into gender dynamics, uses this book to argue that societal, legal, and media portrayals often marginalise fathers, leading to detrimental effects on family structures and child development.
John Stapleton
Parenting toddlers is challenging at the best of times. When you are sick (not to mention when your spouse and child are sick along with you!), the challenge is multiplied by several magnitudes. But your children still need to be fed, cleaned and occupied. How do you handle this?
Jean Seah
Turn the screens off and get outside with your kids! It could be as simple as kicking a ball in the backyard or a visit to your local park. Resist the temptation to make it elaborate or expensive – the simpler, the better!
Nathaniel Marsh
There are many ways for us to spend time together, but I believe the most bonding of these is when we read together. There in my lap, she feels safe, secure, close and loved. What more could a toddler want?
Kurt Mahlburg
Have you ever thought about how your marriage looks to your children — or about how your attitudes toward marriage are influencing them? Your modelling influences your children’s perspectives and practices in their own marriages.
National Center for Fathering
"Children of the State: Stolen for Profit" presents a devastating compilation of statistics and analyses of failed family and child protection systems. The overwhelming socioeconomic consequences of misguided family and child protection policies reach deep into every community.
John Stapleton
Parenting – and teaching – takes oodles of patience, which one is usually short of when sleep-deprived, as parents of toddlers usually are. So, how do we keep our cool and model patience to our toddlers?
Jean Seah
It is a huge challenge for men to keep their sexual integrity in a p*rnified world. Greg’s p*rn addiction cost him his marriage, his house and his children. It’s a heartbreaking story. Ultimately, Greg’s tale of woe is a story of hope, victory and freedom — but at what a price!
Warwick Marsh
If there is just ONE THING you have on hand to give to new dads, I encourage you to have the "Help Me Grow Guide: The First Year". It’s an easy way to bring dads into the wonderful life of their child and encourage their participation right from the start.
National Center for Fathering
Do you ever feel like your marriage has become a minefield? Sometimes we get off track with our wives, and the smallest things can cause tension and separation. Too often, couples get caught up in the distractions of life and lose track of each other.
National Center for Fathering
Stephen Baskerville’s "Taken into Custody: The War Against Fatherhood, Marriage, and the Family" presents a scathing critique of the American divorce and family court system, arguing that it systematically undermines the traditional family structure, particularly by marginalising fathers.
John Stapleton
We spent three happy hours exploring the animal farm, and even had time to visit a strawberry farm nearby afterward!
Jean Seah
Encouraging your kids about good behaviour is one of the most effective ways to train, or disciple, your children.
Nathaniel Marsh
The toys my 14-month-old chooses to play with confirms my suspicion that girls and boys are born with in-built predispositions towards different activities and skills.
Kurt Mahlburg
The tradition of asking a father for his blessing to marry his daughter reflects this human intuition of responsibility of care. As we welcome each child’s spouse into our family, we entrust them with our child’s care and commit to supporting them in this endeavour.
Byron and Francine Pirola
Contrary to common beliefs, up to one in three victims of sexual assault and at least one in three victims of family violence and abuse are male.
Guest Writer
When we discovered that Baby 2 was on her way, we were delighted, but also a tad concerned about how Baby 1 would react. Now, by and large, our progeny co-exist joyfully, taking delight in each other’s existence. We are careful to treat them as equally or equitably as possible.
Jean Seah
News
Dads 4 Kids News is for writers to share interesting insights, news, and stories, to encourage dads and their families.
Most Read
The opinions of the various writers are not necessarily the opinion of Dads4Kids. Please do your own research and come to your own conclusions. We welcome feedback and if you would like to submit an article for the Daily Dad, please contact the editor at info@dads4kids.org.au
My Father
My father knew what was worth having and provided us with an ideal lifestyle. Our old weatherboard house was no showplace, but it was full of contentment, laughter and security.
Support Dads4Kids – Turn the Tide of Fatherlessness and Help Our Children Thrive
Dads4Kids has been helping men take Bruce’s wise advice on how to become better fathers and put a priority on their children, for the last 22 years. With your help, we will continue to do so.
12 Things I’ve Loved About Squish’s First 12 Months
Our little Squish is fast closing in on her first birthday. Where have these last 12 months gone? My first year of fatherhood has been better than I imagined. It comes with plenty of challenges, of course, but so does every path we choose in life.
Making the Wedding Vows Stick
Renewing our vows can be done as frequently as we choose; from the mundane routines to settings in the extreme. When we start to think this way, there must be thousands of opportunities for couples to renew their vows.
Kingdom Thinkers Academy Opens Its New Online School for Homeschoolers
Kingdom Thinkers Academy (KTA) has launched its online school portal. The portal offers quality options suitable for both the homeschooled and the tutored, and is another innovative move by the Australian start-up.
Judicial Indiscretion
A sobering poem on the injustice of the family law system, which can never return time with his child that has been stolen from a father.
Artistic Escapades
I have always enjoyed immersing myself in beautiful art, and now I have the opportunity to share it with my husband and children.
The Hearts Behind Dads4Kids
Dads4Kids founders Warwick and Alison Marsh have massive hearts. As their eldest son, I’ve witnessed first-hand their Phar Lap-sized tickers for Australia and the World. It’s right there in the hand-drawn blue heart of the Dads4Kids logo.
Squish’s Grandparents Come to Town
For the last two weeks, Squish has been surrounded by all four of her grandparents. It was the first time Squish had met my mum and dad, who flew in to the United States all the way from Australia.
Attached – For Better or Worse
An intentional marriage that is loving and affirming, is a powerful way to heal the wounds of insecure attachment. It’s one of the great graces of marriage as we grow in attachment to each other by providing consistent and responsive care.
Divorced Dads: Two Thoughts to Keep in Mind
Divorce is tough on kids, and different children respond in different ways. Of course, it’s tough on a dad too, but as much as possible, it’s best to be understanding, patient, and positive.
Arboreal and Animal Adventures Galore
As we live in an urban area, it takes some planning and effort to facilitate encounters with animals and experiences of plant life. What nature-themed adventures have you found in your area?
Three Keys to Keep You Alive If You Feel Like a Dead Man Walking
Sadly, the truth is we are surrounded by millions and millions of Dead Men Walking. These men are in solitary confinement. They're trapped in a cell in their mind and in their emotions and in their circumstances. Friends, we have got to do something to stop this slide.
Ways to Fight Fathering Commitment Erosion
How do you maintain your motivation and commitment as a dad? According to our own research on fatherhood, high commitment is the number-one sign or predictor of an effective father. But there’s a problem… our commitment level erodes over time.
Private Vows: Good Idea or Not?
The phenomenon of eloping to avoid the drama and cost of a big event is not a new idea. What is new, is having the big event, but exchanging vows separately in a smaller, more intimate, ceremony.
Single Fathers: Press On
Is it possible to be a great father as a single dad? The short answer is, “Absolutely!” However, since being a single parent brings a variety of outside factors and dynamics, we may have to take a slightly different approach.
Dangerous Plants
Introducing your child to the great outdoors is part of the joy of parenting. Fostering a love of nature and curiosity about creation is par for the course. However, in Australia, the flora and fauna pose hazards aplenty. Be careful around unidentified plants!
Fantastical Fathering
Dads, spark your children’s imaginations! Stoke their curiosity! Be the fantastical father who fires up their brain synapses and inspires them to find their place in the world. You won’t regret it.
“Donate a Testicle to Fight Toxic Masculinity” Video Goes Mainstream
A video of men being asked to “donate a testicle to fight toxic masculinity”, and fund transgenderism, has gone mainstream.
New Dad Feels: Enthusiasm and Cost
For most men, being a new father ignites some new feelings that don’t really come from any other experiences in life.
What’s in a Vow?
Vows are not just words. Unlike a promise, which is typically made between people and may be private to them, a sacred vow is made to God, or before God as a witness. It is never totally private and carries accountability to the person (or people) to whom we made the vow and to God.
Divorced Dads: Choose Your Battles Wisely
The first question we must ask ourselves when considering the fight for our rights as fathers is, How will it impact our children? What price will they pay? Divorces take a big enough toll on them.
Australia’s First ‘Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change’
In a national, and probably world first, the Australian state of Victoria has appointed a Parliamentary Secretary for Men's Behaviour Change after the Prime Minister declared a ‘national crisis’ of male violence against women earlier last month.
Birth Pangs: Be Prepared
Life gets busy, and despite the instinct to nest and collect all necessities before birth, your due date can creep up on you before you know it. Preparing during your second trimester might be ideal, as you tend to have more energy then.
The Greatest Poem of All Time on Manhood, and the Power of Family
The "Unsung Hero" movie is a true story about a courageous Australian father who eventually found the courage to love his family unconditionally. That is why I want to encourage you, one more time, to go and see it. You will never regret the experience.
Writing About Riding
3 June is World Bicycle Day. Bicycling is fun, it’s economical, and it’s healthy. It’s an ecological pastime the whole family can enjoy. And if we pay attention, riding a bicycle can provide some lessons for everyday life.
















































