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Mom Enough: The power of good dads and how to support them

Dr. Marti Erickson says Father's Day is a good time to give thought to what today's dads do, playing more of a "hands-on" role in the care of children.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Gone are the days of Ward Cleaver, the TV dad who just sat in his easy chair and left the hands-on parenting of sons Beaver and Wally to his wife June.

Developmental psychologist and host of the "Mom Enough" podcast Dr. Marti Erickson says Father's Day weekend is a good time to reflect on how the role of dads has changed in America, and how much fathers can contribute to the development of their kids. She says with the majority of moms spending at least part of the day in the workplace, dads are spending more time providing hands-on care for their children. 

Dr. Marti stopped by KARE 11 Saturday to discuss a number of Dad-related issues, including:

  • Positive contributions involved dads make like fun, playfulness, exploration and reasonable risk-taking
  • How dads can provide emotional support and concrete "real-life" help for moms that relieves their partner's stress and benefits the kids.
  • The power of dads and moms negotiating their roles in positive, respectful ways which sets a good example for children. 

Dr. Erickson also says moms can help in the process by turning off their "gatekeeper" instincts, which is expecting dads to parent exactly as they do. Instead, talk about strategies and leave a bit of wiggle room to parent in different, but positive ways. 

For more on positive parenting, check out Dr. Marti Erickson's Mom Enough podcast. 

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