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According to sociologist W. Jean Yeung of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, who conducted the study, fathers now do 65 percent as much child care as mothers on weekdays and 87 percent as much on weekends. About half that time is devoted to play and companionship. The findings come from time-use diaries, mostly kept by mothers, in homes of 1,761 children from infancy to 12 years old. Says Yeung, "Our society is really making some progress with the father's role. " Fathers are "just choosing to spend more time with their children when they're not working" (USA Today, 6/14/99).

Better-educated men spend about 30 minutes more a day with their children. Also, the more a mother contributes to the total family income, the more time the father contributes to child care on the weekend. The new study also revealed that one-third of fathers agrees that families function best when Mom stays home and Dad is the breadwinner. Still, 87 percent of men think fathers are just as good as mothers at meeting kids' needs (USA Today, 6/14/99).

Other study findings show that the children whose fathers spend the most time with them and monitor school progress are least likely to have behavior problems (USA Today, 6/10/99). Robert Frank, a sociologist and at-home dad based in Chicago, studied one group of children who were raised by at-home dads and another who were raised by families in which the fathers worked. Frank found that children who were raised by at-home dads were just as likely to go to their fathers for emotional support and nurturing as they were to their mothers. But children whose fathers worked went to their mothers 80 percent of the time. Says Frank, "If you are involved as a father, your kids want to be with you more" (Washington Post/Health, 3/16/99).

Warren Farrell, a social commentator, says it is about time men got credit for all that they are doing. Farrell says that men tend to shrug off their contributions in caring for kids. But once the "fatherhood bug" hits them, they can become seriously and happily "hooked." "It helps heal deep wounds they may have from working too much," Farrell said (USA Today, 6/14/99).

This rosy picture only applies to children living in intact, two-parent families. According to Census figures, 42 percent of our nation's children are not in such families; 39 percent of children under 18 do not live with their biological fathers. Wade Horn, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, a fathering advocacy and support group, says a substantial and growing number of children are not being raised in two-parent homes. "A growing number of children are deprived of a father," said Horn (USA Today, 6/14/99). This is due to the increased divorce and out-of-wedlock birthrates.

Fathers who are not living with their biological children can get and remain involved in their children's lives. Ron Nichols, director of training for the National Center for Fathering, says the key is communication. This can be accomplished by regular phone calls, letters and e-mails. Nichols and his organization encourage fathers to fight against becoming a dad who is not involved. He advises dads to learn what is going on in their kids' lives. Nichols says that dads need to regularly assure their kids of their commitment to them.

Dads do matter—despite what the liberals say. The love, leadership and guidance of fathers are essential to the well-being of the next generation. CWA encourages fathers everywhere to diligently pray for their children and to stay involved in their lives.