Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

Fatherhood Factor Team

Ways To Show Your Dad Appreciation on Father’s Day

By Leave a Comment

Father’s Day is a day that every father awaits. There’s nothing more heartwarming than receiving handmade cards and gifts from your kids (they’re crudely made, but they’re full of love) and having them excitedly tell you how much you mean to them and how proud they are to have you as their dad. Parenting is often thankless work, so it can be nice to hear that you’re doing a wonderful job.

As a father, you’ll probably spend the day with your own family. But that leaves one very important person alone on this special day—the father who raised you. Instead of leaving your old man out of the celebrations, make this year special with these creative ways to show your dad appreciation on Father’s Day.

Write a Letter

Do your parents live miles away from you? You probably don’t want to go through the trouble of packing your luggage and hopping on a plane for a single day of celebration. What should you do, then?

If you can’t see your father in person on Father’s Day, take the time to pen a heartfelt letter instead. Tell your dad how much you appreciate him. Whether you send him this message through text or snail mail, he’s sure to flash a smile when reading it.

Make It Fun

Maybe you think Father’s Day should be an exciting event. Your family takes you to the beach, an expensive restaurant, or the local golf course each year to celebrate. Why not do the same for your own dad? The next way to show your dad appreciation on Father’s Day is to plan a fun activity or outing.

It doesn’t have to be on Father’s Day, but during that same week, invite your dad to spend a day with his favorite kid. There are countless things you can do and places you can go. Just make sure that whatever you’re doing is something you know that your dad will enjoy.

Celebrate Together

This momentous day in June is a time to celebrate fathers of all kinds. Instead of letting your dad celebrate on his lonesome, invite him to join your family festivities. What was that one saying? The more, the merrier.

Father’s Day is more about family than anything else. The more family you include, the livelier and more joyous it will be.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Give Your Child a Smartphone

By Leave a Comment

While the best age for a child to receive their first phone is a topic of wide debate, there are still some ages that most people consider too young. We’re not here to debate what those ages are, but we do want to give you some reasons why you shouldn’t give your child a smartphone. Unfortunately, telling them that you didn’t have a phone at their age isn’t going to cut it anymore.

Phones Are Too Expensive

Have you seen the prices of smartphones recently? A thousand dollars is starting to become the norm in the industry. Granted, we’re aware that most parents will buy their kids a cheaper one, but even on the bargain side of the market, they can easily go for $200 to $300. It’s hard to trust a small child with a “toy” that carries such a hefty price tag. Plus, phone plans themselves can be fairly expensive.

There are much better options for kids on the market, such as child-safe tablets and smartwatches. These watches, in particular, can give parents all the benefits of a smartphone for their child but at a fraction of the cost. On top of that, they’re attached to a wrist, which means they’re less susceptible to drops, spills, and broken screens.

They Could Abuse In-App Purchases

Even though parental features are common these days on smartphones, kids always seem to find a way around them. Then suddenly, before you even know what’s happening, they’ve spent$100 in a game. Since young kids don’t have a fundamental concept of money yet, you can’t even blame them for it. The best way to avoid the situation altogether is not to let them have a phone in the first place.

They Might Become Dependent on Them

While there are ongoing studies on this topic, it’s hard to argue that people don’t have some level of dependence on their devices. If you don’t think that’s the case, try going for a week without your phone and see how you feel afterward. If it didn’t have much of an effect on you, congratulations—you’re stronger than the majority of us.

Regardless of your view on the subject, developing a deep dependence on technology is a big reason why you shouldn’t give your child a smartphone at a young age. Kids’ brains are still developing and don’t need an all-powerful smart device to be at the center of that development.

It’s Good To Tell Them “No”

It can be challenging to keep denying your kid when they continuously ask you for a phone. However, contrary to what you might read on Facebook, saying “no” and setting boundaries with your children is a good thing for them. If they never hear the word “no,” they will go the rest of their life expecting everything to get everything they want when they want it.

Standing your ground and not letting them have a cellphone until you believe they’re ready is one of the best ways to instill a more realistic behavior in them. Plus, your kid will be even more grateful on the day they finally do get a phone than they would have been if you just broke down and gave them one when they asked.

Causes of Aggressive Behavior in Children

By Leave a Comment

Usually, aggression in kids comes and goes. Nearly all kids go through a phase of determining and then surpassing their social boundaries. While most children learn that these verbal and physical behaviors aren’t acceptable, some continue to break these rules, which can impair functioning and lead to trouble at home and in school. Consider the following causes of aggressive behavior in children.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Not all children on the autism spectrum demonstrate aggression. The autism community has an axiom speaking to the uniqueness and idiosyncrasies of the spectrum: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” However, some children on the autism spectrum are more prone to aggressive behavior, and if you believe your child may be on the spectrum, you should seek a diagnosis to begin pursuing intervention strategies.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

An all-too-common diagnosis in young children, the impulsive behaviors and lack of self-control stemming from ADHD often manifest in acts of verbal and physical aggression, such as shouting at parents or teachers or unintentionally injuring peers. Insufficient sleep can exacerbate or increase the likelihood of aggression, and other issues outlined here can also have a combined effect on behavior.

Trouble at Home

Issues between parents often trickle down to their kids as causes of aggressive behavior in children. Children who struggle with their parents going through divorce often have no socially sanctioned outlet for their feelings, and in lieu of healthy sublimation avenues, they lash out verbally and physically. Domestic violence between spouses can also unintentionally model aggressive behaviors that kids take with them out of the house.

Difficulty at School

School, the place where kids spend most of their week, can cause tensions and frustrations that lead to aggressive behavior. Undiagnosed learning disorders can result in poor academic performance that catalyzes violent outbursts. Bullying—still an issue in some schools despite years of anti-bullying initiatives—could lead victims to become bullies themselves, taking their victimhood out on others.

Violence in Media

Objectionable content in media has been a cultural flashpoint in America for years. While some cultural critics ridicule the real-world influence of violent children’s programming, if you suspect that TV shows or YouTube videos are influencing your child’s behavior, it’s best to intercede and limit exposure to this content.

The Top Pros and Cons of All-Wheel-Drive

By Leave a Comment

The drivetrain of your vehicle can impact a wide variety of different factors, from your car’s fuel efficiency to your safety. One of the most popular drivetrains currently on the market is all-wheel-drive. But is this option the best choice for your unique needs and preferences? To find out, consult this guide on the top pros and cons of all-wheel-drive.

Benefits of All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles

  • Increased Traction: One of the main benefits of all-wheel-drive vehicles is the increased traction they provide. By sending torque to all four wheels of the vehicle, the tires will have more grip on a surface than a vehicle with just front-wheel or rear-wheel drive. 
  • Enhanced Safety: Due to the increased traction that vehicles with AWD have, this drivetrain can increase your safety. When driving on slick surfaces such as snow, ice, or wet pavement, an all-wheel-drive vehicle will offer you more control and reduce your potential for sliding and getting into an accident.
  • Improved Cornering: All-wheel-drive vehicles also have better cornering than their two-wheel-drive counterparts. Even on dry surfaces, driving around a sharp corner can cause a vehicle to lose control if the wheels slip. By delivering torque to all four wheels, however, the potential for an individual tire to spin while turning is greatly reduced.

Drawbacks of All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles

  • A Higher Price Tag: In order to enjoy the benefits listed above, you will need to pay a little extra. In comparison to two-wheel drive options, all-wheel-drive vehicles almost always have a higher price tag due to their increased complexity.
  • More Expensive Service and Repair Costs: In addition to having a higher purchase price, the complexity of all-wheel-drive vehicles will often cause them to incur higher maintenance and repair costs.
  • Less Optimal for the Off-Road: While AWD vehicles can provide increased traction, they aren’t as ideal as four-wheel drive vehicles when it comes to off-roading. Because 4WD vehicles can direct power between the left and right wheels as well as the front and back, they are better able to take on challenging obstacles out on the trails.