The Wall Street Journal presents a rather ambivalent piece on the secret of dads’ success, contrasting parenting styles between dads and moms:
Temper Tantrums
Dads: Tend to correct the child with a few blunt, directive words and a glare. They also may distract the child with a joke, which helps kids develop resiliency.
Moms: Tend to get more upset or overwhelmed. They’ll try to reason with the child, explaining why the behavior is inappropriate and what to do instead. This can teach children to express their feelings in words and talk through solutions.
Minor Injuries
Dads: Tend to distract the child by directing her attention to another activity or carrying her to another part of the playground. This can help kids develop the resiliency needed to shake off small setbacks and move on.
Moms: Tend to comfort and soothe the child and encourage her to talk about what she is feeling. This can help a child feel secure and safe and express emotions in words.
Frustration With Toys
Dads: Tend to avoid intervening, while encouraging the child to stick with it. This can help the child develop the skills to solve problems independently.
Moms: Tend quietly to re-arrange the toy so the child can put it together more easily and enjoy feeling successful. This can help develop self confidence.
Playtime
Dads: Interactions are more rambunctious and physical. Dads are more likely to startle babies, laugh, play physical games such as tossing them in the air, and spark peaks of emotion or excitement. This is believed to help kids develop self-regulatory skills.
Moms: Tend to interact face-to-face with babies, babbling back and forth, responding to subtle shifts in facial expressions and touching the baby affectionately. This is believed to teach children to read facial expressions, use words to communicate and to enjoy close, intimate contact.