Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 16, and we recognize and honor fathers for the role they play in shaping their children’s future. Specifically a father can play a tremendous role in helping his daughter love learning and want to attend college. In the research conducted by the Utah Women and Education Project, a young woman who graduated from college was significantly more likely to have had a father who did the following throughout her upbringing:

• Read to her.
• Helped her with her school projects and other homework.
• Took her to cultural events and other activities.
• Attended school events.
• Created learning experiences for her inside and outside the home (e.g., gave her the materials and directions to build something and guided her as needed; taught her to change a tire; worked with her to plant a garden).
• Set a positive example through prioritizing education for himself (e.g., observed him reading books, heard him ask questions to others, watched him earn a college degree, and discussed with him what he had learned).
• Helped her develop lifelong learning skills.

So thank you, Dads, for everything you do, and especially for encouraging your daughters to start and complete their education. Have a Happy Father’s Day! For more information about taking an active role, please check out the Research Snapshots on our /assets/RS_No._2-Fathers.pdf .