10 Reasons why Paternity Leave should be taken by new fathers

Paternity Leave was a hot trend in the world of HR during 2018, and trend setters are indicating that this trend will be around in 2019 as well. More and more US based companies are adding Paternity Leave into the benefit package for their workforce.  In some cases, the Leave is renamed even. No matter what it is called, there are 10 wonderful reasons why new fathers should consider taking the time when it is offered to them.

Reason 1:  Kids will learn more about compassion

Researchers and experts who found that learning about compassion and empathy are essential to helping kids grow into more humane and giving people. By staying home with the kids and teaching them from those early days, dads can help spread that message to their children.

Reason 2: Mom gets a break from child-rearing

An important part of dads taking paternity leave revolves around how the leave offers moms a break from always doing the child-rearing. Stresses and complications that a mother experiences in the early days of raising a child can be relieved by the dad stepping into that role. Moms would still be able to help in the raising of your child, but dads would be there to help change diapers, feed the baby and make sure they are down for another nap. This will enable mom to focus a little longer on her work and get some projects out of the way (or make a business call without worrying about being interrupted).

Reason 3: Think of the children

Paternity Leave isn’t just good for mom and dad, but the kids, too. Research done at the Australian Institute of Family Studies that found paternity leave can help kids a considerable amount. Dads being home during their child’s early lives will help them get better at activities like reading and taking naps. The first few weeks of a child’s life should be an intense bonding experience for dad and baby!

Reason 4: Parents are happier

Staying at home and helping the family has proven to be good for a dad’s psychological state. Researchers at the University of Texas Austin looked into how stay-at-home dads feel about doing housework and taking care of kids, and it seems dads are taking kindly to it. The study offered a very positive representation of changes in gender roles and parenting. More people are doing what makes them happy and determining what’s best for their families rather than worrying about society’s expectations. An increasing amount of men are shifting their ideas about what it means to be a ‘provider’ and most of those we surveyed seemed very content in their new role.

Reason 5:  Dad gets an enriching experience

Here is a wonderful testimony from a father:  Craig Melvin wrote for MSNBC about his experience as a dad who took paternity leave. He explained that he was lucky to get the benefits of paternity leave from his employer, and he was even more blessed to learn what it’s like to be a father from the get-go. Melvin noted that dads sometimes have to play catch up with learning about their kids and their habits, attitudes and patterns. But with paternity leave, he was quick to understand what his child would be like. “Having experienced it first-hand, I would argue that a modest investment that encourages fathers to start off on the right foot is a more than worthwhile. We all pick up the tab down the road when children whose fathers weren’t there start growing up,” Melvin wrote.

Reason 6: Dad gets a break from work

While there are certain benefits kids receive when their dads take time off, fathers are gaining something from it too. Taking Paternity Leave is something many men will do if they full understand the benefits of it. And one of those benefits is getting the time off and being able to step away from the office for a couple of weeks.

Reason 7: Daughters gain confidence outside of the home

Being on Paternity Leave will surely put the dad in scenarios where he has to stay at home and help do some of the housework. And according to recent research, that has made daughters become more successful in the workplace. A study published in Psychological Science found that kids will look up to their dads and emulate their behavior if they see them taking the initiative.

Reason 8:  It will change the perception of dads

Do dads get a bad rep? Critics have said in the past that dads aren’t as caring of their kids, but that changes when they take Paternity Leave, Time magazine reported. Paternity Leave will actually offer men a chance to learn from feminism, relieving dads from having to stick to the stereotypes that culture has often associated them with — being uncaring and not as dedicated to kids as the mother, Time reported. Paternity leave is a practical lesson in why men should be feminists, not just because it’s right and fair. Treating people equally and not constraining them with artificial gender roles benefits men as well.

Reason 9: Dad will be more directly involved in child care

A study in January 2013 found dads who spent more time with their kids — at least two weeks after birth — are more likely to be involved in their care in the years to follow. The study noted that fathers' use of Paternity Leave was largest when leave was well-paid and designated specifically for fathers.

Reason 10: Dad gains confidence in the home

By helping kids learn and develop dads will become more confident in their parenting ability. Taking care of the family and raising the kids in the right ways will give dad an extra pat on the back, telling him that he did right by his family, he wrote. Being able to take time to care for a newborn can give un-confident dads the experience they need for future childcare and parental involvement.

I hope that you found enlightening bits of hope in these reasons for why Paternity Leave should be taken by new dads and offered by companies. If you are an employer learning to learn more, please reach out to: https://charkayemiller.com