Full-Time Dad: How Father-Child Rituals Change Everything (For the Better)

KIDS&Co. • 28 August 2025 • 7 minutes of reading

Full-Time Dad: How Father-Child Rituals Change Everything (For the Better)

Did you know that fatherhood not only changes a child’s life – it literally changes the body and brain of the father? According to research by British anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin, an engaged father is not just a parenting partner. He is an active caregiver, whose presence and affection have an impact on the child’s development and the happiness of the entire family.

For parents with children under the age of 6, this is very important news. It is during these first years that the foundation of closeness is built, which will last a lifetime. Why is it worth giving fathers space to co-create this foundation? And what can they gain from it… including mothers?

1. Dad as the foundation: What does an engaged father provide?

Research clearly shows: children who have a close relationship with their fathers develop better emotionally, socially, and cognitively. What’s more, this applies to both boys and girls.

But just as important are the changes that occur within the father:

Oxytocin levels – the “bonding hormone” – increase.
Testosterone levels decrease (safely and naturally) – leading to more empathy, tenderness, and a greater willingness to care.
The father’s brain learns to read the child’s emotions – but only if he is close to them.

In other words: fatherhood is not a helper role. It is a full-fledged, biological role that works best when it is active.

Whether the father is biological or a close person fulfilling this role, he plays a unique part in preparing the child for interaction with the outside world. Often, it is the father who becomes a guide in exploring new spaces, challenges, and people, modeling courage, independence, and curiosity. The key is not origin, but closeness, presence, and the emotional bond that is created between the adult and the child.

Dad, lying on the couch, lifts his daughter up, both are laughing.

2. Win-win: What do mothers gain when fathers get involved?

When dad builds his unique relationship with the child:

Mom gains space to rest, pursue her career, and take care of herself.
The pressure of “being everything at once” decreases – which reduces the risk of burnout and frustration.
Both sides feel that parenting is a partnership, not “a job for just one.”

Additionally, regular time spent with dad builds greater openness to other people in young children. This allows for easier adaptation in other social situations (e.g., in kindergarten or daycare), thus relieving mom.

3. Father-child rituals: Small things, big effects

One of the simplest ways to build a bond is through repetitive rituals. They don’t have to be spectacular – what matters most is regularity, presence, and engagement.

Ideas for rituals with dad:

Dad reads a story – the same time every day and the same couch or chair. Definitely no phone!
Saturday bike ride – a little adventure, ice cream along the way, talking about “everything and nothing.”
Dad cooks dinner with a helper – child’s apron, stirring, adding ingredients, serving, tasting.
Evening fun – tickling, cushions, and shared laughter before bed.
For the littlest ones, mandatory naps on dad’s chest (preferably in “skin to skin” form) – where mutual synchronization of breathing and heartbeat can be observed.

These small rituals not only build closeness. They also teach the child that the relationship with dad is predictable, safe, and full of love.

For the father, this is very important because it is not hormones that prepare him for his new role, but rather repeated interactions with the child. It is these regular activities that lead to the positive changes that will later be noticed in his developing relationship with the little one. In this context, the romantic myth of “love at first sight” for the child is best replaced with knowledge about how a bond develops in men, and this bond is built primarily through time spent together.

4. Rituals “on the way to and from kindergarten” – mornings and returns with dad

The time when dad drops off or picks up the child from kindergarten or daycare is a perfect opportunity to create micro-rituals that build the bond, teach closeness, and give the child a sense of security.

Ideas for rituals with dad during the daily commute:

Morning goodbye ritual – always the same hug, kiss, waving from the window, shared rhyme (e.g., “Five, kiss, and spin – dad will return like a little plane!”).
Secret route – e.g., once a week, the child chooses a different way to or from kindergarten (“dinosaur path” through the park, “moon mission” across the bridge).
Dad’s pick-up – after kindergarten, the child gets a task: to talk about 3 funny things from the day. Dad, in turn, shares his story from the previous day, in a version suitable for the child.
Bread station or bench stop – picking up from kindergarten ends with a moment for just the two of you: ice cream, apple, rest on the bench. The child knows that this is your time.
Dad’s evening question – every evening, dad asks: “What was your favorite part of the day when we were together?”

Dad hugs his two preschool-aged children, all smiling.

5. What if dad works long hours or irregular hours?

You don’t have to be the perfect dad or spend entire days with the child. It’s enough to be regularly present and authentically focused on the child.

15 minutes every day is more than 3 hours once a week – if they are real.
Children don’t need fireworks – they need attention, eye contact, a smile, and touch.

Let the first step be simple: “What can we do together once a week, just the two of us?”

6. What can you do as a mom to support dad’s role?

Trust: give space, don’t correct immediately, even if something isn’t “your way.”
Encourage, don’t judge: “The kids had a great time with you!” instead of: “Why aren’t they in their pajamas yet?”
Give part of the ritual: even if you love it, give dad the chance to create his own style.
Men are task-oriented – they build relationships through action: help come up with tasks for dad and the kids.

This not only builds the father-child relationship but also strengthens your relationship as partners.

Summary: A dad who is present – changes the world

By supporting fathers, we create more balanced parenting, happier children, and stronger relationships. A father will never be the second mom and won’t take her main role. He just needs to be himself – present, engaged, loving – and his impact on the child’s development will be invaluable.

As Anna Machin writes, “Fatherhood is an ongoing experiment – its most important ingredients are presence and love.”

Are you a dad looking for appropriate care for your child during work? In our private kindergartens and daycare centers, we offer professional, caring, and engaged care that supports the emotional and intellectual development of your little one. With an individual approach to each child and modern teaching methods, you can be sure that your child will be in good hands.

Learn more about the KIDS&Co. kindergarten and nursery program. Our facilities are located in the following cities:

Let’s meet!

We invite all of you to an individual meeting with the headteacher. This will be a great opportunity to find out about our educational offer, ask questions, and visit the kindergarten. You can book one visit for a given day.

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