National family charity Care for the Family will encourage dads to have a laugh with their kids more often at its A Rough Guide for Dads events taking place in Stoke-on-Trent and Leicester at the beginning of October 2006.

|QUOTE|Trying to juggle a busy work life and children is not easy and with this in mind, the main aim of the A Rough Guide for Dads events is to encourage fathers to give being a dad their best shot. The evening will include practical ideas of how to connect with their kids and build the best relationship possible. "I want to give a bit of a boost to every dad who sometimes feels that he's bitten off more than he can chew," says Richard Hardy, community development manager for Care for the Family, who will host the events.

"Being the best dad you can takes a lot of hard work, but it's worth it. Life is never dull being a dad, even though you sometimes wish it was!"

Richard believes that having fun with your kids is one of the most important things you can do as a dad.

"Every father finds it difficult to juggle life's priorities and things seem to be getting tougher," explains Richard, himself a dad with two children. "So we need to take the time out to enjoy life with our kids - be a bit daft, make them laugh and teach them the important things in life."

Just some of the suggestions offered by dads to Care for the Family on ways they can have fun with their kids included: "Play games with them"; "read stories together and do the voices"; "wear your underpants on your head!"

More 'vox pops' like this are played to Dads attending the A Rough Guide for Dads events will have the chance to hear more great 'vox pops' like these.

"They're hilarious and they get you thinking, 'what can I do with my kids to make them laugh'," said Richard.

In today's hectic world it can often be difficult for fathers to find the quality time they should have with their children. Research published last year shows that British fathers spend more time playing with their children than their European counterparts, but they also work the longest hours in Europe - an average of 46.9 hours a week, indicating the 'time pressure' many dads face.

Despite the chronic time shortage that working fathers face, their involvement with their children has never been more vital. A Home Office report in 2001 showed that fathers have the same emotional attachment to new-born babies as mothers. The involvement of the father in the life of the child during the early years not only significantly improves educational prospects, it also reduces the risk of criminal behaviour later in life.

The evening will draw primarily from Richard's experience as a father, and he will share practical advice, including the time when he has got things wrong.

"It's very important that as fathers we realise that we will make mistakes," he says. "It's then we have the opportunity to show our true character as dads - by learning from our mistakes, by apologising for them and by teaching our children to accept responsibility and act with integrity."

Issues covered at A Rough Guide for Dads will include:
• Confessions of a struggling Dad
• Getting over getting it wrong
• Kids need dads ~ it's official!
• The challenge of two families
• It's never too late to start