The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences has partnered with the WVU Extension Service, College of Education, Department of Special Education and the Monongalia County Early Childhood Program to improve the “father factor” in childhood development through nine iFather events in Monongalia County.
The iFather sessions will take place at various area schools from October 2015 to April 2016. Byron Towner, CPASS clinical instructor, has teamed with Eric Murphy, WVU Extension Services, and Bernard Jones, College of Education, to help develop the program.
“They wanted to get a person with a physical education background who could help with activity programming that would be developmentally appropriate for children in the pre-k through second grade range,” Towner explained.
“Specifically, I recommended certain physical activities and games that fathers could play with their children that would appeal to both groups while encouraging bonding,” he added.
According to Towner, the program strives to get fathers into the schools and understand the importance of their involvement in their children’s lives.
“We have a broad focus of ways to get dads involved in their children’s lives, from physical activities to teaching dads how to read aloud. Most importantly, how to listen to their kids,” said Towner.
Through the collaboration, the group attempts to emphasize the importance of fathers and their need to help carry the load and be an integral part of children’s development. They hope to increase fathers’ participation in all aspects of their children’s lives. “Too often, the importance is left solely on the mother,” said Towner.
The community model allows fathers to interact with their children at the school that they attend. So far, the group has held iFather programs at Eastwood, Ridgedale and Mountainview Elementary Schools. In the spring, they will organize programs at Mylan Park, Cheat Lake, Brookhaven, North, Suncrest and Skyview Elementary Schools.
“This program can benefit CPASS students by encouraging members of the Coaching and Teaching Studies club to get involved and put their education to use, while bringing fathers closer to their children,” Towner added.