Be it gardening together, singing to babies, playing building blocks with toddlers or just throwing the ball in the backyard, regular interactions between dads and their children help them to develop into happy healthy children.

Playing with our children is more important than we may realize. Play is "the work of children".

From the very beginning, play gets the brain working, promoting problem solving, learning and the development of language skills. It's playing with parents, including dads, which have the most positive influence on children's brain and overall development. Taking the time to play with children is also a way for dads to show love and affection.  

Children who have a loving, secure relationship with their dad feel better about themselves and have more opportunities to experience success. They are also able to build trusting relationships with others and are more likely to be ready to learn, have fewer behavioural problems and are more likely to succeed in school. Even when they live apart, it's still important for fathers to be available and stay connected to their children.

Dads also benefit from being involved with their children. They have an increased sense of well-being, less stress, and develop closer relationships. Involved fathers are also more likely to take on community leadership roles. So when dads are involved everybody wins: children, fathers, families and communities.  

Communities need to support fathers to be involved in children's lives. A community can do this by creating workplace cultures that support a dad to take his parental time or providing flexible hours for a father to care for a sick child, a legal system that recognizes the importance of dads having access to their children, schools that include dads in student conferences, or malls that provide a change table in the men's washroom or family change rooms.

Dr. Charles Gardner is Simcoe Muskoka's medical officer of health.