Early Live-Away Dad Contact is Key

The period immediately following separation is crucial for the long-term contact between fathers and their children with whom they no longer live.

A study from Statistics Canada shows that Dads who remained closely involved with their children in the first few months following separation had a much greater chance of remaining so later on.

At the point of separation, almost one-half of children saw their father frequently: 27% saw him at least every week, while 22% saw him every two weeks. Almost one-third saw their father monthly, for holidays only or irregularly. The remainder (19%) had no paternal visits at all, though some had contact by phone or mail.

Two years later, the frequency of paternal visits had changed for about half of the children. The study showed that fathers who visited their children regularly seldom lost contact, and fathers who were "absent" rarely began regular visits afterwards.

Overall, the study suggested that fathers who were involved in their non-resident children's lives after separation did not abandon them, whatever the family commitments they later took on.

Find tips for Live-Away Dads at www.TheDadMan.com.