While research has usually focused on mothers, a study last week on BMJ Open showed that the amount of time fathers spend with children is also less important than how much they enjoyed parenting. Fathers who took pleasure in caring for their young children were 28% less likely to have children with behavioural problems at both nine and 11 years old. The research suggests that parental guilt about how much time is spent with their children may be misplaced. With older children, parents often recognise quality time when it happens – a simple chat in the car, for example. No one says less time is better, but the research suggests that what matters most is making the time you do have really count.

Source: The Guardian November 28, 2016 16:10 UTC