Guihulngan City – In Central Visayas, the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program (TKSP) launched on 16 February 2023, have gathered children beneficiaries who are accompanied their parents onsite. Seeing fathers in this type of activities are a rare scenario, but it was indeed heartwarming to witness.

A father is described as a man in relation to his biological or raised child. Often, father’s child-rearing behavior is frequently connoted as cumbersome and inadequate. This should not be the case since studies have established that children with a healthy relationship with a father figure, often grow up with higher self confidence and better relationships. Like mothers, fathers should have an active role in the family, and not just bringing funds or food in the table.

Fathers or partners present during activity contributes positively to the child’s growth and development. Their presence provides comfort to their partners and a sense of safety to their children, especially that they are brought to a new environment and crowd.

Here are some of the significant roles of father in ensuring proper nutrition to his family:

• Duty to provide – this main role of a father is their ability to secure a home and provide the basic needs of his family.
  
  
• Decision making – it is necessary for the fathers to know the nature of the program since they are critical in the decision making of the household.
  
  
• Way maker – men are known to introduce ways to his child in a fun and exciting way, thus, this is a helpful way especially in introducing new foods to the children.
  
  
• Duty to protect – protection here includes the provision of sense of security and being against any harm inflicted to the family.
  
  
• Model – looked up to for the male children
  
  
• Duty to train - Proverbs 22:6, “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
  
  
• Educator role – guidance and good education will mold children to be a role model in his or her adult life

These roles among others, when injected properly, will help not only in the success of the program implementation, but in the child’s milestone as he grow into a responsible citizen in our country. // DMO II Kristal Katrina Bacay, RN