ABOUT
DUCKs AND THE FATHERING PROJECT
DUCKs (Dads United for the Children of Kensington Primary) is the Kensington Primary School Fathering Project Group.
The vision is to try and develop a strong community of Fathers and Father figures within Kensington Primary School (KPS). Through this group we hope there will be positive education of Dads in the importance of their role in their children’s development. Equally we hope to provide a starting point to develop activities that will both strengthen the bond between Dads and their kids, and potentially kids without a positive father figure.
There is a best practice for fathering – it is not all guesswork!
Background
The vision is to try and develop a strong community of Fathers and Father figures within Kensington Primary School (KPS). Through this group we hope there will be positive education of Dads in the importance of their role in their children’s development. Equally we hope to provide a starting point to develop activities that will both strengthen the bond between Dads and their kids, and potentially kids without a positive father figure.
The Fathering Project aims to work closely with schools to assist fathers and father figures to be the best fathers, or father figures, they can be.
Fathering is not an issue that is talked a lot about amongst fathers, yet there are enormous benefits for both dads and kids when dads feel supported and informed to enable them to be the best fathers they can be.
What is the Fathering Project's Schools Program?
The Fathering Project aims to work closely with schools to assist fathers and father figures to be the best fathers, or father figures, they can be.
Fathering is not an issue that is talked a lot about amongst fathers, yet there are enormous benefits for both dads and kids when dads feel supported and informed to enable them to be the best fathers they can be.
The Fathering Project’s Schools’ Program aims to positively promote the important role of fathers, and father figures, to the entire school community through the formation of a “Champion” Dads’ group, or Fathering Project School Group (FPSG).
The FPSG’s key role is to provide leadership and direction to the group of “Champion” Dads, school fathers, father figures and support people, including Mums.
A Fathering Project School Group is a group of dads from a school that is created to be an enjoyable, social group that builds interaction, knowledge and skills of fathers, and father figures, but most importantly is an opportunity for dads to get together in a relaxed, informal environment.
This core group of dads, “Champion” Dads or father figures, will run activities in the school community. They are not “Champion” Dads because they are perfect dads but because they are committed to championing the need for being better dads for the sake of their kids, their partners and the community.
The activities undertaken by the Fathering Project School Group include;
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Father and father activities (including father figures – like uncles, grandfathers, coaches, teachers, etc.)
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Father and child activities.
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Father and The Fathering Project activities.
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Father and School activities.
HOW IT HAPPENED
To capitalise on some of the fantastic Kensington community spirit we saw in the building of our naturescape playground, the P&C thought it would be a good idea to try and harness the great potential of the Dads within the school.
At the launch in May 2015 - 70 eager Dads turned up to the Como Bowling Club to listen to a talk by The Fathering Project on “The powerful role of men in young lives”.
Numerous events since have seen interest grow in both kids and dads at Kensington Primary. Strong support from the school itself has been a big factor. Through a combination of Dad’s social events and Dad & kid’s activities we aim to develop and encourage the ongoing and regular participation of Dads within the school.
