Giving fathers a voice: Towards father involvement in early years settings

Abstract

It has been widely recognised that fathers can play a key role in the development and well-being of young children. In many cases, however, fathers still have limited involvement in the early years education of their children and their voices are as yet unheard. This study examined the beliefs and practices of Jordanian fathers of kindergarten children regarding their involvement in kindergarten-based activities (KBA). The sample included 258 fathers who had children enrolled in kindergartens. Results indicated that fathers exhibited a moderate level of beliefs regarding the involvement in KBA, whereas fathers' perceptions of their own practices in KBA were rather low. In addition, the results revealed that there was a significant and positive relationship between fathers' beliefs and their actual practices. Multiple regression analysis results demonstrated that fathers' educational level and income influenced their beliefs about involvement. Moreover, fathers' monthly income was a significant predictor of their practices. These results were discussed and implications for fatherhood research and practice were presented accordingly.