It’s a sad reality, but fathers are often overlooked when it comes to child custody and visitation matters. That isn’t to say that fathers aren’t granted visitation with their children and even physical custody of them, but they oftentimes have to work harder to show why their meaningful involvement in their child’s life furthers that child’s best interests. But don’t let that discourage you. After all, fathers have rights, and an active father can have a tremendous positive influence on a child.
The impact of an active father
A father who has meaningful involvement with his child can reshape that child’s development and wellbeing for the rest of that child’s life. This is because an active father can positively influence nearly every aspect of a child’s life. To start, children who have an active father in their life are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, which means that they’re more likely to be kept safe and out of trouble.
But the positive impact doesn’t stop there. Children who have an active father in their life also tend to develop healthier relationships and oftentimes even go on to find higher paying jobs. Some research even suggests that these children have higher IQ scores than those children who don’t have a father in their life. These children oftentimes develop a better sense of physical and emotional security, too, which can assist in building self-esteem and confidence, and it can help avoid psychological issues further down the road.
Be proactive in protecting your fathers’ rights
Your rights as a father aren’t automatic. You’ll probably have to work to ensure that you’re given the relationship with your child that you deserve. But there are concrete steps that you can take to protect your fathers’ rights and your child’s best interests. If you’d like to learn more about how to do that, then consider reaching out to a skilled legal team like ours to discuss the matter further.