What Does This Report Explore?

Our previous surveys showed that dads are spending more time with their children, both engaging in play and supporting their learning. However, we still lacked crucial details on how this time was being spent together. To address this, in partnership with Smart Play Network, Scottish Book Trust, and Parenting Across Scotland we designed a set of questions exploring:

• Quality Time with Dad: How do dads spend quality time with their children? What are the activities that are bringing them closer to their children? And what do they believe their children’s favourite activities are?
• Attitudes to Digital Use: What are fathers' views on their children's accessibility to digital technology?
• Participation in the Community: How do dads feel about community activities? Do they feel able, confident, and comfortable in participating? What barriers or facilitators impact their engagement?

A Heartfelt Thank You

Watch DADx: Time with Dad Report

Context

In the first few years of life, children have an insatiable appetite for play. Which not only helps them develop vital skills like walking and talking but also builds vital social abilities. Through play, we are literally wiring our brains with the essential skills we’ll use throughout our lives - that's why in the early years, children need lots of time to play and interact with adults and other kids alike.

Play, especially with fathers, encourages children to push their limits, fostering resilience and learning through challenges. As evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Anna Machin explains:

"Dad and baby get peaks in neurobiological reward from playing together while mum and baby get their hit from nurturing. Hence kids have a tendency to seek dad out to play and run to mum for that reassuring hug."

It turns out that fathers are often a child’s first true play partner, engaging in activities that build physical strength, social understanding, and emotional regulation. Through rough-and-tumble play, such as tickling and chasing, children not only improve agility but also learn crucial skills like empathy and how to navigate failure. An experienced play partner, such as a father, provides a secure base that encourages children to venture beyond the home, interact with peers, and build confidence. While fathers are often dismissed as the 'fun' parent, it's crucial to acknowledge the significant role that play plays in fostering healthy child development. 

Dads love spending time with their children playing, especially through active outdoor play.

Play, it seems, is a pillar of fatherhood, as nearly half of dads (44%) explicitly stated that “playing” was their favourite way to spend time with their children. This enthusiasm is mutual—when asked about their children's preferences, fathers reported almost identical responses (45%), highlighting a strong bond forged through play.

"Playing with them with their toys, cuddling, story telling and going outdoors."

“She loves when I’m at home playing with her.”

One of the most striking findings was dads’ love for the outdoors—a true call of the wild. Significantly, 73% mentioned outdoor activities, compared to just 48% who highlighted indoor activities. Whether it’s a walk in the park, exploring new places, or simply running around in the garden, dads cherish these everyday adventures with their children. 

However, while dads clearly love spending time outdoors, they don’t always believe their children feel the same as only 40% believed outdoor activities were their child’s preferred way to spend time.

Importantly, enjoying the outdoors doesn’t have to come with a price tag—only 16% mentioned paid activities, with swimming being the most popular.

This reinforces the idea that the most meaningful moments for dads are often the simplest ones.

Dads are cautious about digital access, particularly for children under two, but show fewer concerns about tablet usage across all ages.

When discussing their favourite ways of spending time with their children, only 14% of fathers mentioned digital technology-based activities—and the majority of these referenced watching television together. Overall, dads expressed caution about their children's access to digital devices, with those parenting the youngest children being the most hesitant. Among fathers of children aged two and under, 43% preferred their children to have no digital device access at all.

"Having a adventure outside, either a walk in the woods or walk at a beach, playing at a park. I think it's good to be outdoors and active as they need to connect with the world away from the internet."

Interestingly, while many of the digital devices we listed share similar functionality, fathers viewed them quite differently. Mobile phones, in particular, were met with greater resistance—only 33% of dads were comfortable with their children using them. In contrast, tablets were far more accepted, with 68% of fathers approving their use, suggesting that while digital technology plays a role in family life, not all devices are seen as equal.

Most dads feel disconnected from other local parents, and a third feel unable or uncomfortable getting involved with community activities.

More than half (58%) of dads told us they rarely feel connected to other parents in their local community. A third (34%) mentioned difficulties in their ability to get involved, while another third (32%) felt uncomfortable participating in community activities with their children.

“Given that young children have schedules that don't fit with the working day it is an inherent barrier for working dads to access these opportunities"

“A lot of activities don't actually create an environment where parents can connect outside of the activity - it's just turn up, participate, leave.”

Over half (59%) dads cited practical barriers, most commonly relating to work, such as a lack of time or the timing of activities conflicting with their work schedules. Other factors included a general shortage of activities, particularly those that were father-friendly, and a lack of information about events.

Meanwhile, 53% cited social/emotional barriers which primarily focused on their discomfort in female-oriented spaces such as feeling out of place, ignored, ostracised, and seen as a threat. This can be compounded by some dads who shared a lack of confidence and difficulty with poor mental health.

“Being a Dad makes you the odd one out most of the time, and viewed with some suspicion.”

”Feel incredibly uncomfortable being around others. Also feel ashamed of the fact that I'm out of work.”

Dads with infants and children in the early years are particularly disconnected, as are lone fathers. It is clear that many face structural and societal barriers that reinforce isolation, impacting their mental well-being and limiting their children’s social opportunities and development:

“I do not know any other parents in fact it’s really difficult to find playdates.”

Background to the Series

The COVID Effect:

Before the Spring 2020 lockdown mothers in couple households in the UK were contributing almost twice as much unpaid childcare as fathers. During the first lockdown we found fathers’ stepping up to do much more hands-on caring of their children - ONS data confirmed what we were seeing - for every hour spent by mum dads were spending 53 minutes. In 2022, as ‘life returned to normal’, we anticipated that dads levels of unpaid childcare would snap back to pre-pandemic proportions. Happily we found this was far from the case, with the ONS once again confirming our survey findings - an 18% increase in fathers unpaid childcare from pre- to post COVID. Lockdown had transformed dads' relationship with their children and sparked a quiet childcare revolution, with more and more fathers wanting to be present and positively involved.

The Impact of a Global Economic Crisis: 

As COVID restrictions and regulations eased a global economic crisis was gathering force. The cost of living across the UK began to soar, and in October 2022 inflation hit a 40 year record high of 11.1%. In April 2023 the Scottish Government announced “People all across Scotland are being affected by the most severe economic crisis in a generation”. Our 2023 survey showed that despite the crisis dads were continuing to put their family first, as time spent caring for their children reached a new high. However, dads also told us how difficult they were finding striking a balance between being a provider and caring for their children and the importance of family-friendly work.

Our Previous Report

Our 'Fatherhood in the Balance' report, published on 6 November 2024, shed light on how the escalating pressures on families was affecting fathers. Many shared how they were struggling to balance work and family life, particularly new dads and dads on the edge of poverty in the squeezed middle.

We also found that poor mental health had reached a record high, with fewer dads than ever seeking support. Yet, despite these challenges, fathers demonstrated a steadfast commitment to maintaining the increased positive engagement with their children and families that has been observed post-COVID.

In this new 'Time with Dad' report we will build on the voices of the same 408 fathers - who responded between 1-30 June in our 2024 Dads' Survey - by exploring a different aspect of fatherhood that they shared with us. For additional context on the UNCRC Bill and the effects of the current economic climate on families, please refer to our previous 'Fatherhood in the Balance' report.

For more information about our survey and findings, please contact our Director, Cathy Sexton: [email protected]