Studies prove that having a loving and nurturing father is as important for a child's happiness and social and academic success as having a loving and nurturing mother. Girls with actively involved dads are more ambitious and successful in school. They are more likely to attend college and less likely to have abusive partners.

Consider these facts from the organization, Dads and Daughters.org:

In an analysis of nearly 100 studies on parent-child relationships, father was as important as mother love in predicting the social, emotional, and cognitive development and functioning of children and young adults:

• Withdrawal of love by either the father or the mother was equally influential in predicting a child's emotional instability, lack of self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal, and level of aggression.
• In some studies, father love was actually a better predictor than mother love for certain outcomes, including delinquency and conduct problems, substance abuse, and overall mental health and well-being.
• A recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse shows 42 % of teens who don’t use marijuana credit that decision to their parents influence over any other.
• Girls without fathers are almost 40 % more likely to abuse drugs.
• A Partnership for a Drug-Free America study reveals 63 % of fathers said they frequently talked with their children about how drugs can mess up their lives, compared to 81 % of mothers.
• Nearly half of all dads (47 %) are looking to spend more time with their teens, compared to 38 % of mothers who say they need more time.
• Even when fathers do not live at home, children whose fathers are actively involved in their lives tend to have fewer behavioral problems.

Consequences of Divorce on Father-Child Relationships

In a study of 2,500 children of divorce, twenty years after the divorce less than one-third of boys and one-forth of girls reported having close relationships with their fathers. In contrast, 70% of youths from the comparison group of intact families reported feeling close to their fathers.

“Fragile Families” Findings

Preliminary survey data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a study of 2,670 unmarried couples with children, suggests that most unwed fathers are highly involved shortly after the child's birth:

• 50% of unmarried parents were living together at the time of the child's birth, and another 33% were romantically involved but living apart.
• 80% of the fathers were involved in helping the baby's mother during the pregnancy.
• 73% of mothers reported that the chances that they will marry the baby's father are "fifty-fifty" or greater; 88% of fathers reported that the odds of marrying the mother of their child are "fifty-fifty" or greater.
• 30% of the fathers were unemployed in the week before their child was born.
• 64% of the mothers and 75% of the fathers agreed with the statement, "it is better for children if their parents are married."

10 Tips for Even Better Dad and Daughter Relationships:

1. Listen to her.  Focus on what she thinks, believes, feels, dreams and does, not on how she looks.
2. Tell her - often - that you love her.
3. Encourage her strength and help her to develop them to achieve her goals, help other people and help herself.
4. Respect her uniqueness. Urge her to love her body and who she is and not what advertisers and the media say is the “right look.”
5. Get her playing sports and being physically active.  Start young to play catch, tag, jump rope, or just take walks. Physically active girls are less likely to get pregnant, drop out of school, or put up with abuse.  The most physically active girls have fathers who are active with them.
6. Get involved in her school.  Volunteer, chaperone, read to her class.
7. Get involved in her activities.  Drive, coach, play!
8. Take her to work with you.  Show her what you do. She cares more than you think!
9. Support positive alternative media for girls.  Watch programs as a family that portray smart, responsible girls.
10. Learn from other fathers. Together, fathers have reams of experience, expertise and encouragement to share. Subscribe to the newsletter Daughters: For Parents of Girls www.daughters.com Get more tips and information at www.DadsandDaughters.org

So what does all this have to do with Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul?

Few of life’s relationships compare to that of a father and daughter. From the first time she grasps his finger, to the day he lets her go, their bond deepens. Those who enjoy a close relationship will happily identify with the stories in Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul. But sometimes miles and even memories separate them more than they’d like. This book offers not only inspiration, but hope and healing for dads and daughters. Sharing these stories increases their communication, “saying” what may have gone unspoken. The above statistics prove that their relationship not only affects their family, but society.

Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul inspires dads and daughters to embrace these stories and each other, evoking their own memories and deepening their love - proving, none can liken that of a daddy and his “little girl.”

LeAnn has more info and links for Dads and Daughters.org   Click here