Fathers bring much to the family table

To the Editor:

It's so amazing to watch what happens between a father and his baby. If you slow down and really watch, you too can see amazing things.

Dads really do know how to connect with their babies.

The relationship that we dads establish with our babies from their very birth is very important, long-lasting and crucial to healthy development. Research confirms that babies are born ready to experience the world through relationships.

The way we interact with our babies - through our looks with each other, what we say, how we hold them - helps their brains develop so they can begin to take care of their basic needs. Research also shows that children who have fathers in their lives have reduced contact with the juvenile justice system, lower rates of divorce, are better at solving conflicts (without aggression), have higher grade completion in school and higher incomes, are better problem solvers and more empathetic and sensitive as adults.

On this Father's Day, learn more about the importance of social and emotional development in early childhood with a visit to Web sites such as Zero to Three (zerotothree.org), National Association for the Education of Young Children (naeyc.org) and the Indiana Association for Infant & Toddler Mental Health (iaitmh.org).

Stephan Viehweg
Founding chair, Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health Faculty
Riley Child Development Center
IU School of Medicine
Indianapolis