Over 1,000 fathers are expected to visit their children at school or at play on Fathers’ Fridays in June, as part of a new campaign being run by the Council.
Fathers Fridays will take place on either Friday 15th or 22nd June, the nearest Fridays to Fathers’ Day, as part of the Celebrating Fatherhood campaign. Already 26 local schools, children’s centres and nurseries across the area have signed up for the event.
Fathers, or any other significant male role models in the child’s life such as uncles, grandfathers, and brothers, have been invited to take part. They will be able to visit for all or part of the day, including assemblies, classroom and play times, though some will visit at lunchtime or at end of the day.
Special activities organised include ‘Dads’ challenges’, forest walks, and outdoor play sessions.
National Bookstart Week is also joining in, and will be holding a special Rock and Rhyme event called on Friday June 15th, at Royal Victoria Park. This will take place at the bandstand from 12 noon, and is free for all under 5s and their families, with fathers especially welcome.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “One of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s key objectives is to ensure children get a good early start in life and are well prepared for adult life.
“The role of fathers is changing and increasing all the time, and it is important that they are involved in their children’s education. Often organisations think ‘mothers’ when they want to talk to parents about their children, but through Celebrating Fatherhood, and Fathers’ Fridays in particular, we want to encourage fathers to get more involved in children’s development and education.
“Evidence shows that fathers, and other male role models, have a big impact on the quality of children’s lives – including boosting confidence and self-esteem, as well as benefiting their progress educationally.”
Moorlands School in Bath held a Fathers’ Friday last year, and will be running it again this year. Head teacher Clare Griffin-Felton said: “It was very successful. Fathers told us that they felt appreciated and involved and the children really loved it too. I’m delighted that it is being extended across the area this year and that so many fathers will be involved.”
Jamie Hall, who has two daughters at Moorlands School, Jaida and Macey, said: “My girls asked me to go along to Fathers’ Friday and I thought it was brilliant to see the children’s development and education at first hand. It was great to see the kids at work and to meet other dads too – so often it’s just the mums you meet at school. Everyone was so welcoming.
“The children all loved having their dads in the classrooms with them too, and they just kept asking when we could go back!”
Fathers’ Friday is part of the Celebrating Fatherhood campaign, which recognises the importance of fathers in children’s lives, and is being run by Bath & North East Somerset Council and other organisations on behalf of the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
As well as Fathers’ Fridays, there are a number of other Celebrating Fatherhood events in June. Whilst dads are encouraged to attend any activities organised for families organised by the Council and other local organisations, the following are specific sessions aimed at fathers and children in the coming weeks:
- Saturday June 9, Keynsham Children’s Centre’s Fathers’ Stay and Play (10am – noon)
- Saturday June 16, Bath Library. Between 11 -11.30am there will be a special Monstersaurus story time aimed at children and their dads
- Saturday June 16, Dads’ stay and play sessions at the Chew Valley Children’s Centre and Weston Children’s Centre (10am – noon)
- Saturday June 23, Fathers’ stay and play at Radstock Children’s Centre, which runs from 10am – noon (this session has previously been running at Midsomer Norton Children’s Centre).
For more information on these events or wider support for children and families available across the area, contact Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Family Information Service on 0800 073 1214, [email protected] or visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/celebratingfatherhood.
