A mother’s role is vital in the growth and development of a child. But far too often dad’s role in the process is underestimated, or even overlooked.

There is evidence that interactions with a father are just as important as interaction with a mother in a child’s positive development. A recent study showed that dads who played with their toddlers in sensitive, supportive and challenging ways had stronger relationships with these children as they became teens. Kids with little stimulating interaction with their dads during the early years became more anxious, withdrawn and less self-confident, which often made them less acceptable by their peers and less-adjusted at school and as adults.

A strong paternal influence should be cultivated from the time your children are born and maintained as they grow and mature through adolescence. Here are some simple ideas I recommend you incorporate into your day-to-day role of being a father:

Make breakfast. Whether you whip up homemade blueberry pancakes or serve fresh fruit and cereal, come up with "Dad’s Special Servings" and invite your kids to help prepare the meal. Mom will like the break, too. You may even be adventurous and make dinner! 

Dress your children - including changing diapers. Yuck! What man wants to change a dirty diaper? But by doing so, a father can show his child unconditional love. As your infant reaches toddlerhood, come up with a fun "get dressed" song or incorporate some cute language into the dressing or undressing ritual. Kids will likely give you less fits about having to dress each day when you make it more like play.

Curl up together with a book. It doesn’t matter if you have story time every night or just once a week. This activity stimulates young minds to absorb new information, and it helps build lasting, warm memories of dad’s love (and of reading, as well).

Study for the test. Research your role in books, on the internet and take parenting classes to maximize your results. There is ample information out there to help you learn how to support your kids through their various stages of growth and development.

Take an interest. Ask questions about your child’s progress and shortcomings. Talk with the sitter, teacher, and, of course your children, to see what’s happening. If you don’t know what your child is currently studying in school, or his or her favorite subjects or hobbies or closest friends, then you have lots of topics to keep the conversation going.

Share something special to you. It may be how you came to love baseball by listening to it on the radio at night as a boy, or how your uncle, who worked in the treasury department, inspired you to collect rare coins. You will probably enlist someone who will want to share in that special something with you for a lifetime.

Be a home body. Spend time with the kids at home - inside and outside the house. Play games, watch an appropriate movie together, exercise together, and make a commitment to have dinner together as a family at least five out of seven nights a week.

Plan day trips. Fathers can bond with their kids by taking them to the park; the zoo; a pond to fish; or, for teens, the mall or a movie. The quality of the trip is more important than its length. When time is short, a trip to McDonald’s for a meal and conversation can be just as effective. Dads will also earn brownie points with mom for giving her time alone at home.

Give them responsibility. Obviously you can’t do this with infants and young toddlers, but you can assign simple tasks like picking up toys to children as young as three. As kids get older, responsibilities might include cleaning their room, feeding the family pets, raking the yard and taking out the trash. Be sure to hold children accountable for their responsibilities.

Discipline them. Children need consistent, simple rules and boundaries. Be sure kids understand the rules and know the consequences if they fail to follow them. There are many forms of discipline, such as time out, the removal of valued possessions, and in some cases, spanking. Be sure you, mom, and any other caretakers are on the same page when it comes to what kind of discipline to apply in each situation. In every instance, reinforce to your kids that you love them no matter their mistake.

Praise them. Work toward a daily climate of respect and affection. Catch your children doing things right and let them know it. Avoid a constantly critical state of mind. Even when children fail, try to point out the good in that failure, such as learning from a mistake. Keeping the atmosphere positive and supportive will enhance your child’s emotional development. Come up with a unique reward system to motivate them to continue good behavior and to give their best on tasks.

Love their mom. Don’t overlook the value of demonstrating a quality relationship with their mother in front of your children. Deal with conflicts in a constructive manner because it’s easier to be warm and emotionally available to your kids when your relationship with their mom is unstrained.

Practice what you preach. Kids learn from you, Dad, even when you think they are not looking. Like it or not, you are the most effective teacher your child will ever have, and you will never have a moment when you are not teaching them something. Your actions speak louder than your words, so be a good role model.

The key ingredient in most of these ideas is time. Invest time in your children and your family. Be creative! Have fun! Fatherhood is a commitment for life. Embrace it fully and celebrate it daily.

MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state. For more information, please visit mcghealth.org.

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Dr. Clay Stallworth is a pediatrician with MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center and MCG Pediatric Primary Care Associates. He is a member of the MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center Advisory Council and a 2005 winner of the MCGHealth Family Choice Award for Pediatrics. Dr. Stallworth is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he serves as a deacon, helps with the youth group and plays with the adult hand bell choir. He is married to Leila Stallworth, also a pediatrician at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, and they have two daughters, Helen, 11, and Lucy, 6.