As leaders in the family organization sphere with our carpooling app, we know dads are doing a lot of the driving. We see you in the after-school pickup lines and the morning drop-offs. We see you in the stands and on the sidelines at your kid’s sports games. We see you at the library storytimes with your little one sitting in your lap.
Today’s dads are different than the dads of yesteryear. According to the Pew Research Center, “The number of fathers who are at home with their children for any reason has nearly doubled since 1989 when 1.1 million were in this category. It reached its highest point—2.2 million—in 2010.” Moreover, the study found “the biggest contributor to long-term growth in these ‘stay-at-home fathers’ is the rising number of fathers who are at home primarily to care for their family.” The number of dads who became the primary caregiver increased from 5% in 1989 to 21% in 2012. That’s amazing!
However, even though many dads do at least half of the childcare and some dads do the majority of the childcare, there are still far more resources available for moms. Fortunately, while there are fewer resources available for dads, the resources that are available are excellent. Today, we are sharing some of our favorite resources just for Dad.
Avoid Feelings of Isolation and Connect with Other Dads
If you are one of the 2 million at-home dads, then you likely understand how isolating stay-at-home parenting can be. When you factor in that there will typically be more women in playgroups than men, it can feel even more isolating. Thankfully, we have a solution. Just as moms have moms’ groups to form connections, the dads of America have begun creating their own dads’ groups or dad conventions with the main purpose of connecting with fellow dads.
City Dads Group – This is a website dedicated to helping dads in metropolitan cities in the US connect with one another. Each city group organizes playdates and outings for dads. They are in cities like New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and more. Moreover, their website provides info on how to start your own City Dads Group in your area.
Father’s Eve – This is an annual celebration of fatherhood held on the night before Father’s Day with events happening across the US. It provides the perfect opportunity for fathers to come together. Check their event page to see if there is an event happening this year in your city. Plus, their website has an excellent blog with tips for dads on how to deal with everything from bullying to father-daughter dances.
National At-Home Dad Network – This huge network of at-home dads has a ton of helpful resources for dads, including links for finding nearby Dad Groups. Additionally, they host an annual convention just for dads called the Home Dad Con.
Read These Blogs for Real-Life and Humorous Dad Tips
Another way to feel less alone is to embrace the blog world. Just like there are tons of mom blogs, there are also plenty of outstanding dad blogs. The purpose of the blogs is to be relatable and meaningful. You will find blog articles that teach you helpful tricks, ones that make you laugh, and ones that help you handle specific parenting situations. Here are a few that stand out:
- Fatherly – Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about fatherhood
- Dads Who Change Diapers – Including a changing station map for dads since we know not all restrooms have to change tables
- Dad and Buried – A blog that covers hot topics with humor and heart
- NOMADAD (Not On My Ass Dad) – This is actually a podcast, but it includes a blog
Apps & Other Resources to Make Dad’s Life Easier
- The National Fatherhood Initiative
- 24/7 Dad® To Go app (By the National Fatherhood Initiative)
- Daddy Up: The Dad’s Guide to Pregnancy app
- Quick Tips for New Dads app
Last but not least, our GoKid app is a great way to develop a circle of trusted parents that you allow to drive your kids to and from places. GoKid makes this easier than ever. Our app allows you to choose who you invite into your carpool. No one should parent alone – with GoKid, you don’t have to.
