'Fun dads' get 5 things right about parenting that many people forget—'they're worth borrowing' this Father's Day, says expert
Key takeaways
- Even if you never plan to wrestle a toddler before bedtime, we could all use a little fun-dad energy.
- Of course, dads may have more room for play partly because moms are carrying more of the mental load of parenting.
- As we work to rebalance the less-fun parts of parenting and household management, we shouldn't lose sight of what fun dads get right: Play matters.
Even if you never plan to wrestle a toddler before bedtime, we could all use a little fun-dad energy. There's a reason the stereotype exists: Dads spend a lot of time playing with their children, and they tend to enjoy it. In fact, dads report feeling happier when interacting with their kids than during most other daily activities.
Of course, dads may have more room for play partly because moms are carrying more of the mental load of parenting. On average, moms report being responsible for about 73% of all cognitive household labor compared with their partners' 27%, and it's stressing them out.
As we work to rebalance the less-fun parts of parenting and household management, we shouldn't lose sight of what fun dads get right: Play matters. And it's good for adults, too.