Every year, millions of families lose their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons too early. Men in Australia live an average of nearly five years less than women. But here's the good news — the vast majority of premature male deaths are preventable.
Warwick Marsh
Do you already have the “perfect” plan designed for your children’s lives? As mothers, I believe this is a particularly difficult area to manoeuvre. Wanting the very best for our children, we can get our hearts set on the best preschool to the best college.
Annette Spurr
The concept of a Love Bank was first developed by best-selling author Dr Willard Harley in 1986. Put simply, it is how we keep track of the way each person treats us. When it comes to being excellent fathers for our children, The Love Bank is a very useful concept.
Nathaniel Marsh
Last week was our toughest yet as parents. It all began when Squish endured a few days of unexplained fevers and interrupted sleep. We eventually found a rock-hard lump on her leg that was clearly the source of her pain. Our baby needed surgery to drain the infection.
Kurt Mahlburg
It’s commonly accepted today that first marriages have a greater success rate when delayed. If we dig a bit deeper, however, we find this conventional wisdom regarding delayed marrying has its flaws. Certain factors are at play in the success of all marriages.
Guest Writer
All dads want to be the best father they can. But it can be tough to know how to do this after separation. Here, Mensline Australia offers some parenting tips on how to be positive around your kids while dealing with your own stuff, like anger, sadness and loneliness.
Guest Writer
Whether you’ve got five minutes to spare or want to build lasting habits – today we’re opening the textbook on six scientifically-backed ways to boost your happiness levels!
Annette Spurr
Australian singer-songwriter Colin Buchanan is a national living treasure. My family and I are BIG Colin Buchanan fans! So when I logged into Spotify the other week and saw Colin had released a new song, "Stick Together", I immediately had a listen.
Nathaniel Marsh
Ultimately, parents must remember that they likely won’t be around for their children’s entire lives, but children’s siblings probably will be. If parents can teach their children how to build a solid family network together, they will offer a legacy not only to their children, but one that can be passed through the generations.
Guest Writer
Masculine men are the very thing we need — now more than ever in the battle of traditionalism versus progressivism. Though the media has attacked the vital value of gender itself, we know they’re wrong. We know male and female is how we’re made.
Guest Writer
Finding the secret to respectful, civil and constructive co-parenting is important for your kids. As part of a united parental front, my kids’ mum and I made it work without too many issues.
Guest Writer
In the midst of a conversation about toilet training with another parent, a childless friend walked over, and we realised, this isn’t something you talk about with people without kids. With surprising ease, I came up with a list of things that have become my ‘new normal’ since becoming a parent…
Annette Spurr
Caitlin Keating, a journalist with People magazine, has done a beautiful job telling this powerful story. The full title of this exclusive article is even harder to believe: “Blind Triplet Contemplated Suicide Before Blind Man Adopted Them. Now Boys Are Pursuing Their Dreams.”
Warwick Marsh
The title above could just as easily read “My First 9 Months as a Dad”. I don’t think of myself specifically as an adoptive dad — I am a dad — to a beautiful, curious, vibrant little nine-month-old baby.
Kurt Mahlburg
Couples who go the distance in marriage are those who have learnt to repair early and often. They still have disagreements, tiffs, and other challenges to their connection, but they catch it before it escalates.
Byron and Francine Pirola
Equality before the law no longer exists in Australia. The presumption of innocence has been tossed aside – totally discarded by our biased media and undermined by regular legislative tampering with basic principles of justice.
Bettina Arndt
I live with my husband, two sons and a male dog. I couldn’t be happier. Our decision not to have any more children is a considered one, and hubby and I are completely in love with our two boys. Nonetheless, it begs the question: what am I missing out on?
Annette Spurr
If you can, work towards creating a happy place for your family. Discuss ideas, then start planning and working towards it. Your family happy place could be a screen-free family meal together, a fun bicycle or scooter adventure, or a fancy picnic at your local park.
Nathaniel Marsh
My new after-work ritual marks a big shift for me. No longer do I get to veg straight away, as in my bachelor days. This is a sacrifice, but it is one that I am willing to make.
Kurt Mahlburg
Marriages are always stronger when a couple are looking forward to building a better future together by learning from their mistakes, rather than backward-looking and focused on the past failings of the other.
Byron and Francine Pirola
Fortunate is the father and child who discovers "I Love My Daddy Because…" (by Laurel Porter Gaylord). At last, here is a book that shows the variety of attributes men — and animals — share with their young.
Don Mathis
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Dads 4 Kids News is for writers to share interesting insights, news, and stories, to encourage dads and their families.
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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
4 Keys for Men to Live a Long Life: Because the People Who Love You Need You Here
Every year, millions of families lose their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons too early. Men in Australia live an average of nearly five years less than women. But here's the good news — the vast majority of premature male deaths are preventable.
International Men’s Day Largest Global Presentation to Stop Men’s Suicide, Parliament House, Australia
This year, the team at Dads4Kids gave Paul Withall the 2023 International Men's Day Australian Courage Award for his amazing work on promoting the desperate need to reverse the silent epidemic of male suicide in Australia.
Ten Reasons Why We Fail
Here are ten reflections on falling short of a desired outcome. More precisely, why we fail despite ourselves or our best intentions.
Perfectly Imperfect Marriages
Despite the promises of Hollywood and fairytales, the perfect marriage is the one that helps us grow the most. And that’s not likely to be a marriage without hardship or trouble.
Lynching of Men is Our National Sport
If Australia’s male suicide rate could be reduced to that of the rest of the world, 10 men per week would be saved from an early death.
Should Teachers Give Out Parenting Advice?
Common sense parenting isn’t so common sense, and the support networks once available to new parents are no longer there. But is it our schools’ responsibility to train parents?
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Not all heroes wear capes. Mostly, they’re just everyday people. As we approach International Men’s Day on November 19, take some time to think about the heroes and positive male role models in your life.
The Innate Difference Between a Mother and a Father
What Angie and I are learning during this season is just how differently the two of us are wired. Motherly instinct is an incredibly powerful force, and this holds just as true for an adoptive mother as for a biological one.
Softly Spoken Wins the Heart
Having a difficult conversation is sometimes necessary. All couples need to be able to maturely address issues ranging from selfishness, neglect, or simple differences of opinion.
Become a Morning Person and Do Life Better
Fast forward to parenthood, and things have changed somewhat. I’ve become a reluctant morning person, but it’s had some surprising benefits.
Children Won’t Tell You, But They Need Time With Dad
According to the social sciences, 70% of prisoners are fatherless in one way or another. That is the reason prisons are known as homes for fatherless men.
2500 Empty Shoes: Male Suicide Visual Presentation for International Men’s Day
2500 Empty Shoes is a visual presentation on male suicide, held this year on 16 and 19 November on the lawns of Parliament House, Canberra. Day 2 coincides with International Men’s Day.
Remember November 11
The eleventh day of the eleventh month is a solemn day around the world. Many people call it Remembrance Day. The Daily Dad remembers members of the military with gratitude.
What Makes a Good Father
What makes a good father? Anyone can have children, but not anyone can be a father. So before you claim that "World's Greatest Dad" mug, take a look at some of the criteria that illustrate how to be a good father.
Marital Conflict Gone Global
When conflict arises in a marriage, it’s not uncommon for us to seek validation for being upset. So, we look for ways to strengthen our case and justify our complaint against the other.
Bachelor of Paternal Application
I am intrigued by the university degree – ‘Bachelor of Paternal Application’. A Daddy Degree, if you will, focused on putting papa wisdom into practice.
The World’s Toughest Job
Last week, I wanted to quit. I have never felt quite so unqualified for a position. Drowning in failure and frustration. Last week was a tough week in my motherhood journey.
Be a Contender
Don’t be like Brando’s character Terry Malloy in "On the Waterfront"; instead, be a contender! Fight for your family – your kids will thank you one day.
A Letter to Our Baby’s Birth Mother
Squish will always know the story about her birth mother and will always be free to ask questions about how it all began.
The Power of Why
Rather than just burying it or pushing harder into an argument, we try to take a step back to privately ask ourselves some why questions: why am I reacting this way? Where is this coming from?
Parliament Votes for More Fatherless Children
Don’t you reckon that even more ordinary Aussies would stand up and be counted if they knew about this appallingly damaging new Family Law bill, rammed through parliament this week with no proper scrutiny and no mandate?
Are We Born Competitive?
My kids are only 2 and 3 1/2 and, already, their competitive spirit is alive and well. I think it’s important to nurture it in a healthy way and teach them how to use it properly.
Another Stolen Generation of Children
The Labor Party Family Law Amendment Bill 2023, which passed in Parliament this Thursday, 19 October 2023, created a day of mourning for Australian children.
Your Baby Might Be Smarter Than You Think
It is truly amazing that in this one little life is a personality just bursting to get out, complete with interests and quirks, distastes and dreams, humour and chutzpah, and so much more.
The Single-Minded Search
Sometimes, single people ask us for suggestions on how to find a suitable marriage partner. Here’s a thought we often ask them to consider.
Play on Words
Apparently, a strong-willed child (I parent one) needs their soft underbelly affirmed five times for each critique.
















































