Although the average father spends more time with his children than 30 years ago (and many would like to spend more), research shows that fathers in England are less likely than mothers to read with their children. Some say they do not do so because they think it fits more with the mother's role as the main caregiver. Many men are not aware of the impact their involvement can have on their children's development, and are not actively looking for ways to get involve since "that is what teachers are for".

However, there is also growing evidence (Goldman, 2005) that father involvement in education can have a significant impact on child outcomes, including:

• better exam results
• better school attendance and behaviour
• less criminality
• higher quality of later relationships
• better mental health

The NLT has also produced a magazine full of case studies and practical ideas - Getting the Blokes on Board: involving fathers and male carers in reading with their children.

Engaging dads with reading with their children (pdf) - an article by Adrienne Burgess from Fathers Direct (now the Fatherhood Institute), on tips for engaging dads in reading with their children.

Family literacy programmes are more likely to involve female family members, unless dads are specifically targeted and their needs and perceptions are considered. Rebecca Goldman's extensive review of research and practice, published by the National Family and Parenting Institute in 2005, identified features of successful practice in involving dads. These suggested that family literacy workers should:

• have high-level strategy, planning and commitment on engaging fathers
• consult fathers, mothers, children and practitioners on their plans and how they should be delivered
• build positive attitudes among all practitioners (not just those working directly with fathers) towards fathers' involvement, using training and/or reflective practice
• be persistent, creative, patient and sensitive in the recruitment of fathers, as it is often challenging and time-consuming
• think creatively about venues - schools and libraries can be fine, but sports clubs and leisure centres can be motivating alternatives
• think also about how information is conveyed to fathers - "pupil post" (where children take school letters and information home to their parents) and school newsletters are generally unreliable methods of reaching male carers. More effective are recruiting through children, mothers and involved fathers, making use of peer group power, and imaginative outreach strategies
  
• consider what reading materials fathers will enjoy, including subjects such as sports, travel and sci-fi, as well as other non-fiction, websites and newspapers
• combine literacy with male-oriented learning methods and practical, dynamic, "hands-on" activities, such as use of the internet, games, puzzles, and visits from celebrity authors, poets, dramatists and storytellers; too much programmed discussion time can be off-putting
• use audio or video-taped stories to support family literacy activities with geographically distant non-resident fathers, including those in prisons

However, it's important to remember that not all fathers are the same and many won't fit the stereotypes. Poetry and creative writing can work if they are in the right context; and successful discussion-based reading groups for fathers and their sons can be established in public libraries and other venues, so long as the books appeal to the participants, and the facilitators are skilled. Examples of projects targeting men and boys

This information is based on findings by Rebecca Goldman, Senior Research Officer at the Sure Start Research and Evaluation Team, Department for Education and Skills, published in a report by the National Family and Parenting Institute in 2005. The full report, Fathers' Involvement in their Children's Education: A Review of Research and Practice, costs £21. Download an order form from www.nfpi.org.

The DfES has published a toolkit for practitioners on engaging fathers in children's education. Copies can be order from DfES Publications on 0845 602 2260, reference DfES/0314/2004.

The National Literacy Trust has published a a brief investigation of work going on across the UK to involve dads in their children's literacy (May 2006): Fathers' involvement in their children's literacy: mapping the territory (Word document).