It Takes a Village: Being a Good Dad, Collaboratively
July 21, 2026
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children
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In Episode 3 of Hot Topics, Good Dads hosts Will Cox and Dr. Jennifer L. Baker tackle a powerful and relatable subject for every parent: the value of letting children fail. The latest episode, “Letting Your Children Fail – Using Setbacks to Foster Growth & Resilience,” is a candid conversation that explores why experiencing failure […]
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The Good Dads Blog features some curated content from online resources. This post originally appeared on the Northern Life Magazine website and was not written by Good Dads staff. Reposted with permission. Being a father is one of life’s most significant roles, but it can also be one of the most daunting, especially if you’ve […]
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We’re building a fence at the top of the cliff. That’s probably one of the easiest and most concise ways to describe what we’re doing at Good Dads. We are constructing a sturdy barrier overlooking a ravine because we want to prevent the needless tragedy that occurs when people go over the edge. Author Dan […]
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Last Monday, we sent out an important progress report on the New Pathways for Good Dads program. As we celebrate a decade of hard work among our staff, volunteers and program participants, we want to say thank you and recap some of our recent accomplishments. In 2018, The New Pathways for Good Dads (NPGD) program […]
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Curiosity is the foundation of lifelong learning, and in Good Dads’ most recent podcast episode on “The Difference a Dad Makes,” hosts Brian and J. Fotsch welcome Rudy Martinez, Director of the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, to explore how dads can cultivate curiosity and outdoor engagement in their children. Rudy shares how his love for […]
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Brrrrr! Bitter winds are howling. Tiny frozen crystals dance from the cloudy sky. Slippery ice covers every surface. It can only mean one thing: a snow day! For some, there’s nothing better than building snowmen, making snow angels and waging war in the form of snowball fights. But for others, the winter wonderland puts us […]
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We’ve been covering healthy relationships (romantic and otherwise) here on the Good Dads blog for years, and this week we’ve collected some of our favorite tips and advice. This Valentine’s Day, remember that healthy relationships is a commitment for 365 days a year! Make it safe to connect Make it easy to give and receive […]
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The oft-heard adage, “Fake it ’till you make it” isn’t perfectly true, but it does contain an important nugget of truth. You see, no one is born with the built-in ability to do things successfully. A newborn infant knows how to cry, feed and sleep. (Maybe a couple of other things also!). All the other […]
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The debut episode of The Difference a Dad Makes podcast brings together co-hosts Dr. Jennifer L. Baker and J. Fotsch as they introduce Brian Mattson, the lead pastor at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. Brian is also a musician and proud father of two young children. This heartfelt conversation dives deep into the vital […]
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Several members of the Good Dads team, including executive staff, board members and facilitators, caravanned to Jefferson City today to meet with Missouri legislators for important discussions on the importance of engaged fatherhood. Our sincere thanks to all the elected members of the Missouri General Assembly who took time out of their busy day to […]
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Good Dads invites proposals for 75-minute sessions to be presented at our first (hopefully annual) family reunion for facilitators and chapter leaders. The one-day reunion is scheduled for Friday, July 18, in Springfield, Missouri. This year’s theme, Bringing It Home, encourages a broad exploration of the many ways we can support fathers and their families […]
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Most dads hope to raise kind, generous children who care for others. Most parents want to see their children playing well with others, practicing kindness and developing meaningful relationships. But when your toddler just yanked a toy out of her brother’s hands with a yowl of “MINE!” or when your teenager just slammed his bedroom […]
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Measure Twice, Learn Once
I have so many Tom stories, I thought I would share another one. It has always bugged me how Tom
June Conversations: Inspiring Insights from Four Good Dads Episodes
This month on the Good Dads Podcast, our lineup explored vital areas of fatherhood: from raising financially responsible kids to
What Are You Doing This Summer? A Word of Caution in our Screen-Reliant World
School’s out and the kids are in—in your homes, in your refrigerators and in your hair. The newness of the
Good Dads Graduation Celebrates Two-Dozen Fathers
We honored 24 exceptional men on Thursday, June 12, at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. This amazing event, with
Staying Grounded: Helping Kids Navigate Peer Pressure and Self-Esteem
In Episode 5 of Good Dads’ The Intentional Dad podcast, hosts J. Fotsch and Jason Hynson sit down with Dyllan
Announcement: Three Missouri towns win Good Dads Great Communities of the Year Contest
Good Dads, Missouri’s leading father-focused non-profit, named three communities, Ava, Rolla and Texas County, as its Great Communities of the
The Curse Word Confession
When my son whispered that he had said “the s-word” at school, I braced myself. But what came out of
Second-annual charity golf tournament to benefit Good Dads
Good Dads Inc., a nonprofit headquartered in Springfield, MO, is collaborating again with Flintrock Home Builders to host its second-annual
April Conversations: Insights from Four Good Dads Podcast Episodes
Did you catch our four engaging podcast episodes in April? We explored fatherhood in various ways, from handling screen time
Gallery: Good Dads Brings 40+ Missourians Together for Facilitator Training
Wow! More than three dozen father-focused leaders representing 15 Missouri communities joined Good Dads in Springfield, MO, to be trained
How Low Can You Go to Be a Good Dad?
The boys are all grown and have their own lives now, but when I look back at some of the
Gallery: Good Dads Hosts New Chapter Orientation
Good Dads was honored to host its latest Chapter Orientation, welcoming community leaders from ten Missouri communities! The event, Friday