Good Dads Blog

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“Hold my hand, daddy. I’m scared.” “Watch this, daddy. Watch me jump in the pool. Did you see the splash I made?” “Did you see me hit that ball, Dad? Were you watching when I hit that homerun?” Why is having our attention so important to children? Why do small children, especially, remind us over […]

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Good Dads received its second-in-a-row appropriation in Missouri’s annual budget, signed by Governor Mike Parson at the end of June. The nonprofit received two budgetary items: a one-time appropriation, plus a more permanent line-item that Good Dads hopes will remain in the budget for years to come. Both pools will allow Good Dads to bring […]

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This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re diving into the ways you can be a good dad to preteens. Children at this age are in a period of growth and discovery: they’re learning who they are and figuring out their passions by becoming more independent. On recent episodes of the Good Dads podcast, […]

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Good Dads will be on the national stage this summer as its executive director will present at this year’s National Fatherhood Summit hosted by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. The convening’s 2024 theme is “From Foundations to the Future.” The summit, taking place August 13–15 in Atlanta, GA, boasts the attendance of “key stakeholders from […]

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If your child is entering the public education system (maybe for the first time), you probably wondering how to make sure it’s a success. I understand, and I am in the same boat as a dad of a preschooler. I’ve done my share of research on making my son’s leap into elementary school go smoothly, […]

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Tonight with JD, I had a realization that children become truly mature and compassionate when they realize that, if they CAN do something, they NEED to do it for themselves.  I believe we, as parents, need to encourage our kids to do things they are capable of doing on their own and only ask for […]

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This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re focusing on being a good dad to kids between 6–9 years old. If you have a child this age, they’re most likely in the middle of their summer break. Because summer is the perfect time for relaxation and fun in the sun, the last thing some […]

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If you submitted a nomination for the 2024 Outstanding Dads of the Year contest this spring, thank you! We received submissions from across the Ozarks from sons and daughters, spouses, friends and neighbors, co-workers and many others who recognize the important role that dads play in the lives of their children. It’s clear that Southwest […]

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‍Goal Setting for Parents I strongly believe in the idea of setting goals. If you aim for nothing, you’ll get nothing every time. This concept is typically used to set personal goals, but I’m here to talk about goal setting for parents. In my experience, a lot of parenting decisions are reaction-based. What if we […]

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It sneaks up on you: One morning, you're forced to accept the reality that your baby doesn’t need you to get her dressed anymore. When she had the freedom to choose what she would wear, she gained confidence in her ability to make good decisions for herself....
The outdoors is the perfect backdrop for bonding with your youngster while communing with nature—not to mention the fact that plenty of outdoor adventures are low-cost or even free!...

Suddenly the sound of a bell, horn or whistle breaks the silence. Almost immediately another set of sounds can be heard. Those whoops, sighs and moans are voices of school children, teachers and parents heralding the end of the school year. Summer vacation has arrived! Summer is a particularly important time for dads. Summer offers […]

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