The initiative, which will be held in the week leading up to Father’s Day (11-17 June) is designed to use fatherhood as a hook for learning activities.
Fathers' Story Week was created in 2010 to help participating schools, nurseries and other settings to celebrate fatherhood through activities, where the children work with their dads or other father-figures.More than 2,500 educational institutions took part in 2011, reaching an estimated 250,000 families. Activities this year include an Olympic challenge to try a new sport, paper aeroplane competitions, readathons and Bring Your Dad To School Day.
Adrienne Burgess, joint chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said, ‘When fathers are involved in their children's learning they have a significant impact on their well-being and learning outcomes.
‘Too often schools and other settings overlook their responsibility to engage with dads as well as mums - especially when the family is separated.’
Distinguished children's authors, such as Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson, and Olympian and father-of-six Chris Boardman, have backed the initiative.
The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson said, ‘I hope a record number of dads and schools will get involved this year. In my experience fathers are great storytellers - and great actors.
‘When I do my book shows I often need a little help from the audience, and ask "Who’s got a dad who's good at telling stories and doing the different voices?" The fathers who are volunteered by their children are always brilliant at transforming themselves into farmers, cattle thieves, dogs, elephants, or whatever else is required.’
Olympic gold medallist and world record holding cyclist Chris Boardman described Fathers’ Story Week as ‘a wonderful campaign that will help encourage dads to get involved with their children's schools, nurseries and reading'.He added, ‘When I was a child my parents read to me regularly and I do the same without fail every night. I want every child to have this experience.’
This year's event has been endorsed by organisations including Nursery World, the National Children's Bureau, the National Day Nurseries Association and the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
- Visit www.fathersstoryweek.org for more information and to purchase the official Fathers’ Story Week pack full of activity ideas for £20.
