The “fun dad” label can sound light, even a little playful, but psychology suggests it may point to something deeper. Research on father involvement shows that warm, responsive dads are often linked with better social, emotional, cognitive and physical outcomes in children. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child says responsive back-and-forth interactions help build brain architecture, while other research links involved fathering with warmth, nurturance and support. In other words, the dads who seem the most easygoing are often doing more than entertaining a child. They are helping a child feel safe, seen and regulated. Here are 5 things ‘fun dads’ do that can raise happier children.
