Becoming Dad: The Joys of Fatherhood
Today’s fathers play a critical role in the development, nutrition and growth of their children. By: Anne-Marie De Beer, Nutrition, Health and Wellness Manager, Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR), writing for The Growing Parent, a supportive platform for parents and caregivers with children between the ages of 3 - 5 years. Fathers have a consequential impact on their children’s nutrition, exercise and play. According to a study conducted by Yogman et.al (2022), the active and ongoing involvement of fathers in a child’s life has been linked to improved o utcomes such as improved mental health, physical and cognitive development. In the South African context, Swartz & Bhana, 2009 highlight how modern fathers speak with sadness about never knowing their own fathers and recognize the lack of experience and guidance on fatherhood and responsibility. However, significant socio-economic and cultural developments have provided modern fathers with the chance to be more