University of Auckland researchers from the Department of Psychology are conducting a study on attitudes towards genetic testing for unborn babies.
“This research is important as understanding how people feel about whether or not to undertake prenatal genetic testing is crucial in order to assist them through the process. Data collected through this research will provide key information for developing informational materials that can assist individuals in making these important decisions”, says researcher Cecile Muller. Cecile is keen to get a significant number of men into the study as she believes that they are ‘too often understudied’.
The research consists of a short internet-based survey. If you want to participate send a blank email to prenatal@auckland.ac.nz and you will get a reply with the details and a link to the online survey.
The Lottery Grants Board declined an application by Father & Child Trust and Canterbury University researcher Jeffrey Gage for funding to conduct research on single custodial fathers with small children.
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Children Teach Parents To Eat Fruit
Kids have trumped their parents by showing that they actually like fruit and vegetables. Plus they understand the importance of eating them better than their parents do.
Research by Colmar-Brunton shows 93% of children understand that 5+ a day means to eat five or more servings of fruit or veges every day, yet only 68% of parents understand this message.
And while children eat fruit and veges mainly because their parents tell them to (75%), they also eat them for their taste and health benefits more than their parents do.
Responding to a question that allowed multiple answers, 68% of children said they ate fruit and veges to keep their bodies healthy (parents also 68%), 65% said they ate them because they liked the taste (parents 31%) and 57% said they ate them because they were good for them in general (parents 42%).
In a healthy hat-trick, more children also wanted fruit instead of less healthy snacks than parents realised.
When asked what they would prefer as snacks, 33% of children chose fruit over biscuits, chippies, chocolate or veges.
Only 29% of parents thought their children would choose fruit.
Fathers Research Declined — Again!
New Zealand has 24,000 solo dads with dependent children, most of them in paid employment and typically plugging away without any direct support.
How they became solo dads, whether they or their children need anything or if there is useful information to help them is not known.
Another funding body has declined Father & Child’s latest application for help to research solo fathers in NZ. This initiative has also been unsuccessful in two other funding requests.
The study aims to assess the present situation of full-time solo fathers with dependent children under eight, perceived needs for themselves and their children, effectiveness of family service agencies in reaching them, and what support initiatives may be acceptable to them.
Father & Child’s last research initiative, the teenage fathers project, was funded by an international agency for Early Childhood Development, the Hague-based Bernard van Leer Foundation, after all local requests for funding assistance came to nothing.
Father & Child Auckland ‘Moving In’
This time last year was our ‘Coming Out’ so this week, we are very pleased to be moving in to the Onehunga Community Center, 83 Church St, next to the Library.
Having held our meetings there and helped host the Monday Jingle and Jive sessions for toddlers, we can tell this is a fantastic center with many great people.
Jenny McKay has been most helpful in forming our group plus the local Parents Center, other support groups and counselors use the facilities.
Since we have had our office in Christchurch, many dads have been able to visit and deal with us during office hours, plus we can easily deal with other agencies.
Fathers can pop in and maintain the relationships, as their children grow, sharing news and support.
PlayDad StoryTime starting soon at Epsom Library
Auckland dads are invited to a fathers PlayDad StoryTime.
The event is 10 am on Sat 21st Feb at Epsom Community Library, 195 Manukau Rd, but please be early if you’d like a park!
This very special half hour for toddlers will include ‘active movement’ and is the first of what is hoped to be a regular event – at least once a month if attendance demands.
Presented by David Tucker these sessions are based on the successful positive movement groups, part of a SPARC initiative well received at many Auckland libraries recently.
Father and Child Trust helps host similar dad-friendly toddler ‘Jingle and Jive’ sessions on Mondays in Onehunga.
Designed for 0-2 year olds, but suitable for all toddlers, they encourage bonding and movement learning as well as memory and 3D development, through music and fun.
Service Leader Anna enthuses, “The children who come back to the library rush up to David and tell him about something they remembered.
A few of them are obviously not used to seeing a guy or hearing him read stories. They stare a lot, at first, and may take a while to get used to his voice. He had to do a lion’s roar yesterday and all the little boys loved it, they kept roaring around the library afterwards.
Several other Auckland libraries are intending to be there on the day, taking notes and hopefully scheduling similar events citywide.
New Book for Dads Launched
A new book is available for first-time fathers looking for information on the first year of their baby.
The ‘manual’ was written by three Wellington dads, who set up the web site ‘DIY Father’ in 2006 and did some fulltime baby caring themselves.
Meanwhile Father & Child’s publication New Babies Edition, which is being distributed for free in hospitals in the three main centres, is at risk of being discontinued as some major community funders the publication depends on had to absorb heavy losses from their investments.
Christchurch Dad vs Foster Parents
A Christchurch dad is wrestling with Child Youth and Family (CYF) to have his six months old daughter placed in his care.
CYF has removed the child from the mother at birth, as all the mother’s other children have ended up in CYF care due to neglect.
The father had been standing by to take care of the child, but CYF decided to place the baby with foster parents and order a paternity test first although neither parent had raised any doubt about parentage.
The father has also undergone one-on-one babycare training with Father & Child Trust in preparation for taking care of his daughter.
Although the test proved the father’s paternity, and no concerns had been raised about his ability to care for a baby, CYF wants to leave the baby in foster care saying that she has now bonded with the foster parents and removing her would not be in the child’s best interest.
The case highlights what some fathers’ groups claim is a bias by the agency against fathers.
In another Christchurch case, CYF made no attempt to contact the father of a 4 year old girl after the death of her mother.
The girl was moved into foster care with a woman, who the father claims has made anti-male comments. The Family Court has since revoked CYF’s custody over the child, opening the way for a greater involvement of the father and possibly day-to-day care.
Father & Child Group Starting Up in Dunedin
Dunedin may soon have its own Father & Child branch again, if local dad Graham Dewhirst gets his way.
A separately incorporated Father & Child Trust Otago was first established in 1998 and operated out of premises in Moray Place but became dysfunctional due to political disagreements a few years later.
Graham, who was involved with the old Trust for a short time, wants to set up the new group under the structure of the existing Father & Child Trust, which has branches in Christchurch and Auckland.
He has a nine year old daughter Maria and a seven year old son Joseph, and from involvement in their early years he has made good connections with Parents Centre, the Homebirth Association and other groups.
He says the parenting organisations need to work together to do what’s best for the whole family and hopes that Father & Child can do their bit.
Graham separated from his partner five years ago and they now share parenting, with him having contact with their children most days of the week.
He says he would like to establish a group that represents a good mix of dads with different family backgrounds.
Contact: Graham Dewhirst, dewey@xtra.co.nz, ph 03 476 6463
Men’s Centre Established in Christchurch
The various men’s organisations in Christchurch have given birth to a new service called the Canterbury Men’s Centre (CMC). The CMC was originally proposed at the 2005 Men’s Issues Summit and since then the guys involved have been diligently working away at creating it and defining its purpose.
The CMC opened in January with significant funding support from the Canterbury Community Trust, Lotteries, and the Christchurch City Council and has since been looking at the existing education, health, and social systems to see what can be done to improve them for men and fathers.
Donald Pettitt, the CMC manager commented that ‘so far I’m amazed at the goodwill inside community groups for men and fathers’ and has found that the various managers and workers are wanting to improve services for men but are confused about how to do it.
Donald has joined the Canterbury District health Board’s Consumer Representative Group and the Council of Social Services representing the men’s sector in both cases. He is also currently nominated for the board of Partnership Health.
Initiatives by the CMC so far include; a series of workshops for health/community workers during Men’s Health Week in June 2008, the formation of a Men in Social/Health/Education Services monthly network group, and a brochure that brings together on one sheet all the services focusing on men in Canterbury.
Other possible projects under development include Men’s Sheds, Men’s Health Initiatives, A National Men’s Well-Being and Health collective, and an extension of services for men and fathers out of Christchurch and into Canterbury.
The CMC is also providing one on one support and referral services for men that are either in crisis or are looking to try something new.
If you are interested in hearing more about the CMC or want to talk to Donald about services for men give him a call at 03 940 9487 or email
