Summary

This report examined fathers' engagement in early childcare using data from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) cohort, exploring the determinants and impacts of paternal involvement. It found that fathers take less parental leave than they expect and are less involved in day-to-day childcare than mothers, though their participation increases as children grow. Work commitments, income disparity, personality traits, and family dynamics influenced fathers' childcare involvement, with Māori and Pasifika fathers showing higher engagement. The study revealed no direct link between paternity leave and child development but found that greater paternal involvement and higher-quality care positively impacted children's psychological, language, and motor skills development. Addressing structural barriers and enhancing fathers’ active participation in childcare could mitigate gender inequalities and improve children's outcomes.
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Hennecke, J., Meehan, L., Pacheco, G. & Turcu, A. (2022). Fathers’ household and childcare involvement in New Zealand: A snapshot, determinants and consequences. NZ Work Research Institute. Auckland, NZ https://workresearch.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/705524/8d032f9089e8816746f93768e0972944824e8c3b.pdf

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