Who are Today's Dads?

Abstract

Dads play a crucial role in the lives of children. Who Are Today’s Dads? is a University of Auckland project related to the Growing Up in New Zealand study. We want to find out how dads shape their children’s early development, health and wellbeing. The “dads” of more than 5,000 6 year olds were invited to take part in an online questionnaire. We are interested in all “dads” not just those who are the biological fathers of their children but also step-dads, foster and/or adoptive parents, co-mums and other family members who fulfil a dad role. Another important focus of the study is the extent to which New Zealand children experience changes in “dads”. We will explore the diversity of individuals who are father figures to contemporary New Zealand children with a focus on their work, parent–child relationship and how engaged dads are with their Growing Up in New Zealand child. Our aim is to determine how current and future policy can be developed to enhance the role that modern “dads” can play to contribute positively to children’s early development.