How Fathers Help their Children Develop

Fathers influence their children's development in many ways, including financially and emotionally, but the literature revealing how and why is limited. This book brings together theoretical orientations and different disciplinary lenses to the study of how and why fathers matter for children's development. It challenges the commonly held view that fathers are only economic providers and points to the complex interplay between the love fathers have for their children and the money they have (or not) to support them. By integrating developmental science with economics, and drawing on real-life examples from qualitative research, the authors argue that fatherhood is a tale of two stories: love and money.

• Offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the role fathers play in their children's lives
• Uses non-technical language and real-life examples from qualitative research to make the theory accessible to a wide audience
• Acts as a starting point for more interdisciplinary research on fathers and fathering across disciplines, including psychology, sociology, social work, public policy, and more