Matt LaRose
DAD CODE The Funny Guide for Fathers
Matt LaRose
COPYRIGHT Š 2013 MATT LAROSE LAROSE PRINTING COMPANY All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author. Inquiries should be addressed to: 947 Carriage HIll Drive Saint Peters, MO 63304
Dedicated to:
Brinly E. LaRose
TABLE PAGES
CONTENTS 11
INTRODUCTION
21
SECTION 1.
43
SECTION 2.
63
SECTION 3.
THE POINT
THE ROUGH HOUSING EFFECT
TEACHING MOMENTS FOR EVERYDAY
MIND YOUR MANNERS
INTRODUCTION Being a father can be a wonderful
wrong, it’s nice to have that manual
thing, once you get past all the gross
to go back to. Fatherhood needs that
stuff, all the stressful events, the loss
manual.What follows are the father-
of privacy, and the bewildering num-
hood tips I wish they’d passed out
bers of ways you can screw it up. But
to me upon the delivery of my first
other than those few things, father-
child. It would have helped a ton.
hood is wonderful. Every dad has fears
I hope they’ll help you become an
Hello! I will be a guide through the
that he won’t be a great dad, that
even more awesome dad than you
book and tell you some of the essen-
he’ll mess up, that he’ll be a failure.
already are — feel free to refer back
tial tips that will help you raise your
It comes with the job. Unfortunately,
to them as a cheat sheet, anytime
children. It will also come with funny
what doesn’t come with the job is a
you need some help. This cheat sheet
stories to be ready for in you and your
simple set of instructions. As guys,
is known as the DAD CODE.
childs life.
we often will skip the manual, figuring we can wing it … but when things go
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TIPS 4 TIPS
Be Patient Be Active Learn the firm “NO” Mistakes will be made Guides can be great, but sometimes they need extra tips to help you through out the guide. This is a list of tips that
Sense of humor required
can help you while reading the book. Reading this book may seem very straight forward, but fatherhood has
Cherish the Time
many different turns. Some days could be going according to plan and other days could go all wrong! When the
Put their interests first
days seem like they couldn’t get any worse, remember these tips.
Let them be themselves Dont worry Be a kid.....AGAIN! 13
14
It is a
WISE FATHER that knows his
OWN CHILD WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR
15
20
REASONS WHY YOUR KIDS NEED YOU AS A FATHER
16
1
Let your child know that you love them
2
More financial resources
3
Positive male role model
4
Emotional support
5
Enhances childs self-esteem
6
Intellectual Development
7
Provide guidance and discipline
8
Someone to play with
9
Someone to talk to when they have questions
10
Increases their chances of academic success
11
Provides an alternative perspective on life
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Lowers childs chances for early sexual activity
13
Lowers chances of school failure
14
Lowers chances of suicide
15
Lowers chances of juvenile delinquency
16
Lowers chances of adult criminal activity
17
Provides sense of physical and emotional security
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Facilitates moral development
19
Healthy gender identity for the child
20
Important life skills
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18
YOU
100% OF THE SHOTS YOU
DONT
TAKE
WAYNE GRETZKY
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20
THE
ROUGH
HOUSING
EFFECT This section is all about the physical
of the mother. Your childs health starts
in impulsive physical play. One quarter
well being of your childs health. One
in the womb, so remember to make
of U.S. children spend 4 hours or more
of the main things a father can do with
sure mom is taken care of during the
watching television daily. An increased
their child is be physical with them.
whole pregnancy. Even If that means
amount of screen time combined with
I dont mean beat them, but have fun
getting ice cream or rubbing her feet
busy family schedules, limited play time
and dont be afraid to rough house.
in the middle of the night, then do so.
(indoor and outdoor), and perceived
A father that rough houses with their
Fathers tend to play more one-on-
safety issues, children are engaged in
child promotes physical and mental
one, rough and tumble games with
less physical activity (including less free
activity. Rough housing allows the
their children which encourages large
play and exploration). This will cause
child to take risks and solve problems
motor development. Rough housing
obesity and malnutrition. That is why
by using their body. Before a Father
allows children to explore what their
a Father’s rough housing can be
can even start the rough housing
bodies can do, and helps them learn
negative to the child’s health.
process, they first need to take care
to regulate emotions when engaging
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PILLOW FIGHTING Pillow fighting is one of the most fun activities you can do with your child. It helps promote physical activity with the child while letting them know that they cannot get mad. It helps them learn how to control their aggressiveness and physical activity. As a father, you need to make sure they know the limits, so they don’t get angry. Let them know it is all for fun. The only problem with pillow fighting is if the pillows explode!
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SUMMER Summer is one of the most fun time of the years. It is our favorite time of the year. BBQ’s in the backyard, while water ballons and water guns are going all over the place. There are many activities that you can do with your child. A couple of activities that me and my daughter do are bike riding, swimming, boat riding, hiking, picnics, telescopes (night time), and playing sports. Its the best time of the year for the outdoors so make sure you spend your time outside. This time of the year a child can usually be more physical than any other time during the year.
FACTS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Although the summer time is great for
•
Chalk Games
kids physical health. There educational
•
Water Parks
•
Water Balloon Fights
that students typically score lower on
•
Water Gun Fights
standardized tests at the end of sum-
•
Roller Blading
•
Smore’s
•
Bug Hunts
tubing, swimming, fishing, and camp
also doing some educational
•
Sports
fires. We also like to go to our lake
activities during the summer.
•
Fishing
learning actually decreases greatly. Research spanning 100 years shows
mer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer. So make sure that your are
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FAVORITE ACTIVITY Some of our favorite activities to do during the summer time is boating,
house and enjoy the outdoors.
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WINTER Winter time is a great time for indoor and outdoor activities. Although the cold weather may seem scary to let your child outside, it’s ok. The weather should only activate how physical your child is because it is cold. That means they need to move in order to get warm. Bundle them and yourself up and get outside. There is sledding, snowball fights, building snowmen, making snow angels, and even snow igloos or forts! Winter time can also mean more time inside. If there is no snow and it is freezing then you obviously need to figure out something inside to do. Father’s and their child can have dance offs, excercise together, or even play some board games.
FACTS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Children tend to keep the same
•
Ice Skating
amount of educational learning
•
Collect Pine Cones
•
Skiing
this case, make sure that your child
•
Tubing
is doing something physical while
•
Make Indoor Forts
•
Excercise Together
•
Play X-Box Kinect
snow, reading books, playing some
•
Some Video Games ok
video games (Kinect), board games,
•
Bake Cookies or Snacks
through the winter time but start to slack on physical activities. In
learning. There are many different things that you can do with your child to help promote physical action.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY Some of our favorite activities to do during the winter time is playing in the
and even having some movie times. Its usually a more cozy time of year.
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THE GREAT OUTDOORS Some of the best times I can remember is when we are fishing and when she gets old enough, going on float trips. It is very important for your child to experience “The Great Outdoors� throughout there life. It helps them explore outside the norm of their everyday living at home and helps them explore the outdoors. Float trips and camping were some of the best times that I remember with my dad.
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DO’S &
DON’TS
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This section has to do with some of
And some ask is this right way to
This section is a huge line that you
the “do’s” and “dont’s” while physically
do this? Or what is the wrong way
should not ccross when taking care of
taking care of your child. There are
to do that? These are questions that
your child. This should seem very
alot of rights and wrongs when people
are often asked when raising children.
obvious for parents. This section is
are deciding on how they want to take
Some may seem very obvious but
just a reminder on how to take care
care of their baby. Some people think
there is always those crazy stories
of your child (and for you to laugh!).
that one way is better then the other.
that you hear on the news.
DO
DON’T LIFTING YOUR BABY
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DRYING BABY
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DO
DON’T
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INTRODUCING ANIMALS
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DO
DON’T
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WALKING WITH BABY
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DO
DON’T
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HELPING BABY TEETH
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DO
DON’T
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HEALTHY VALUES Teaching healthy values is very important for your child. They are watching you even when you dont think they are. So don’t put 12 pieces of pieces on one plate! Even though they probably would not physically be able to, they look up to you and might think it’s ok later on in life.
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AZZIP
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INVESTMENT KNOWLEDGE
PAYS
BEST
INTEREST Benjamin Franklin
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TEACHING
MOMENTS
EVERYDAY This section is about educating your
ation. This also helps the child to think
child. There is many different activities
independently about these problems
that you can do with your child in order
or situations. Fathers seem to do this
to make sure that they are getting the
more than mothers. Fathers are also
correct cognitive learning. An active
more hands on physically and it makes
father has many positive outcomes.
the child work for answers rather than
And there are reasons why you help
giving them away. Fathers are also more
your childs cognitive learning. Fa-
likely to find new and unexpected ways
thers talk is characterized by “what”,
to play with familiar toys, which will
“where”, and “how”. This kind of talk
expand the childs creative horizon. This
makes the child think harder about an-
section will show you how there are
swering questions. It makes them think
teaching moments in everyday, you just
more in depth about a problem or situ-
need to find them.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT ACTIVE FATHERS IN CHILDS LIFE • Child is 43% more likely to earn mostly “A’s” • Child is 70% less likely to drop out of school • Child is 33% Less likely to repeat a grade • Children usually have higher IQ’s
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READING Reading is one of the greatest activities that you can do with your child. You can start as an at an early age and gradually progress to longer and harder reading material for them. It helps them cognitively with learning to read and vocabulary, but also by expanding their imagination by visualizing the story in their head. While reading the books to them ask frequent questions like: “What will happen next?” or “How did you feel about this?”. This will also help them think out of the box and remember the stories. These are also some of best times to bond with your child. You don’t have to read only books, expand their brains and read other kinds of media.
FACTS
READING MATERIAL
There are obvious reasons why we
•
Newspapers
should read to our children but here
•
Magazines
•
Books on Audio
to them are more likely to have better
•
Sports Sections
verbal skills. Fathers are more likely
•
Library and let them pick
•
Crossword Puzzles
•
Tell your own story
reading what the characters are say-
•
I-Pad
ing, then read it with a voice that you
is some in-depth information that I have found. Girls whose fathers read
to speak in ways that challenge their childs developing language abilities and teach them about social communication exchanges.
EXPLODE WITH READING! One thing that I have learned from my wife is to read with enthusiasm. When
created for them. Your child will enjoy it much more!
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IMAGINATION This is a time to pretend! It is very essential for the child to have pretend time because it helps them expand their minds. It helps them to become more creative and think of what they could be. It helps their mind come up with different scenarios that could be good for critical thinking. It also helps them know that they can be themselves in front of you.
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EXPLORING Exploring can be very important for a child growing up. Playing “Hide and Seek” is one form of exlporing that helps the become more independent. It could be played outside or inside, and the child is forced to find “new” areas to hide. Exploring could be as simple as just going outside to the park or on a bike ride on streets they haven’t been to. With exploring comes the idea of the child having to observe the area that they are in. When playing “Hide and Seek”, the child needs to observe the area in order to try and find the other players.
FACT
EXPLORING ACTIVITIES
It is not certain who invented hide and
•
Hide and Seek
seek. In every country, there is a differ-
•
Learning Other Cultures
•
Hiking
roots of war, where enemies would try
•
Run Free in Play Tubes
to kill each other.
•
Ghost in the Graveyard
•
Jail Break
•
Tag
everytime we play there is new parts
•
Scavenger Hunt
of the house that are found for the
ing version of the game. However, this game has traces of it coming from the
EXPLORE! Playing Hide-and-Seek is one of our favorite games to play. It seems like
game.
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MUSIC AWAY FROM THE
THE DUST OF EVERYDAY
LIFE Berthold Aurach
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MUSIC Music is one of the greatest activities that you can do with your child. Not only does your child get to have fun with instruments but it can help them intellectually and cognitively. Whether is beating on drums, strumming strings on a guitar, or pushing all the keys down on the piano at once, your child is learning. The experiment with sound and physical interaction helps the childs brain to develop. Research shows that music is to the brain as physical exercise is to the human body. Music tones the brain for auditory fitness and allows it to decipher between tone and pitch.
FACTS
INSTRUMENT IDEAS
Children who study a musical instru-
•
Guitar
ment are more likely to excel in all of
•
Drums
•
Trumpet
stay in school, and pursue further
•
Singing
education. Elementary age children
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Saxophone
•
Spoons
•
Bongos
play together and dont always sound
•
ukulele
beautiful playing, but we do have a
their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills,
who are involved in music lessons show greater brain development and memory improvement within a year than children who receive no musical training in that time.
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MAESTRO! Two of the insturments that we play are the guitar and piano. We try to
fun when we do.
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YOU NEVER FAIL UNTIL
STOP TRYING Albert Einstein
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SCIENCE Science is a very engaging subject that you and your child can do together. The activities are endless. The best thing about science is the fun that both of you will have. Not only is science fun but it is also very educational for your child. My daughter and I have done several science projects together. Some of the projects that we have done include making a volcano, putting dye in a flower to watch it change colors over days, and also making egg parachutes to see if the egg will break or stay intact. Science is all around us and affects the way we live. Children need to understand that science influences daily life; without it, we would not have things such as computers, cars, television, airplanes and electricity
FACTS
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Science encourages problem solving
•
Diet Coke & Mentos
and teaches kids the process of trial
•
Floating Eggs
•
Oil & Water
problem solving skills. Science evokes
•
Magnifying Glass & Sun
critical thinking and challenges kids
•
Pop Rocks, Balloon,
and error. Using the scientific method is one way children can hone their
to ask “why.” The subject involves the use of logic and testing hypotheses. It is important that kids explain their
& 20 oz Sprite •
reasoning and how they arrived at a conclusion.
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•
THE EINSTEIN IN US Science projects have been very fun
Invicible Ink
for us over the years, especially on
(Lemon Juice)
rainy days that we can’t go outside
Ice Bubbles
and are stuck inside.
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BUILD SOMETHING TOGETHER Building projects with your children is a great way to bond. It gives you a chance to teach your child how to make something while creating a sense of accomplishment for their self-esteem. There is a number of things that you can build together, it just takes a little imganiation and motivation to get it done.
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THE MASTER PIECE Art may seem like fun and games -- and it is! -- but you may not realize that your child is actually learning a lot through exploring the arts and doing art activities. Your children will gain useful life skills through art, so encourage them to get creative, and you will quickly see that your children are picking up many different skills. Although some may regard art education as a luxury, simple creative activities are some of the building blocks of child development. Learning to create and appreciate visual aesthetics may be more important than ever to the development of the next generation of children as they grow up.
FACTS
ART PROJECTS
Studies show that there is a correla-
•
Painting
tion between art and other achieve-
•
Drawing
•
Origami
participate regularly in the arts (three
•
Cut-Outs
hours a day on three days each week
•
Fake Stained Glass
•
Mosaic’s
There is a large amount of time that
•
Tie-Die
we create artwork together. And it’s
•
Sculpture
ment. A report by Americans for the Arts states that young people who
through one full year) are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, to participate in a math and science fair or to win an award for writing an essay or poem than children who do not participate.
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(play-dough or clay)
THE NEXT PICASSO
a great time to ask questions and talk to your child about things.
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MIND
MANNERS QUICK FACTS ABOUT ACTIVE FATHERS IN CHILDS LIFE
This section is all about your childs
After setting some rules for your kids,
manners and behaviors. As a father,
it is then most important to teach your
you have a very big role in how your
children manners in early child hood.
child will learn their manners, then
If you can teach them the fundamen-
those manners will result in the behav-
tals of manners like: “Please, Thank You,
ior. It is important to lay some rules
Pardon Me, etc.”, then they will be
out and teach them manners with the
respecting everyone in their life. It
rules. WIth no rules your child may
all starts with the rules, then comes
think they can do whatever they want.
the manners, and through out life they
If they think they can do whatever
will succeed respectfully. These are
they want, then it will effect how they
just some of the key things that you
are going to behave and it will not be
can do with your child so they will,
cure, be confident, and better social
good with no rules.
“mind their manners”.
connections with their peers.
• Child is 90% less likely to runaway or become homeless • Child is 85% less likely to exhibit behavioral disorders • Child is 75% less likely to be in a chemical abuse center • More likely to be emotionally se-
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MANNERS AND RESPONSIBILITY As parents we love when we are able to give some responsibilities, like chores, to our children. This takes some of the stress off of us while teaching them a sense of being responsible. Also, maybe they learn that with each chore they accomplish they get an allowance at the end of the week. Either way, teaching our children to clean up after themselves is important. The most important place to learn manners is at home and at an early age. Teach them when they are young so when they are older they will realize easier why these manners are important. We don’t want all of our kids running around like banshees, so teach them now!
FACTS
9 WAYS TO HELP
76% of civilians think that Americans
•
Be kind to others
are more rude and less civilized than
•
Understand their actions
•
Show them the way
workers than they were 10 years ago.
•
Be a good role model
94% of Americans believe that the
•
Share
•
Keep kids healthy
I try to correct my daughter in any
•
Practice family politeness
situation that she might have been
•
Thank You notes
•
Praise good behavior
20-30 years ago. 70% of civilians say that Americans are ruder to service
tone and civility in the United States is a problem.
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EXCUSE YOU?
rude or inappropriate. She knows for the most part now not to do certain things in public. So start young!
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GRACE THEM FOR GOOD
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One of the most important things that
things. It could be cleaning the dishes
they have done. If they are going to
you can do as a father is “grace them
after dinner, getting good grades in
start doing chores then you can start
for good”. It means alot to a child to
school, or even holding the door open
giving them allowance plus grace them
hear themselves getting graced for
for someone. I’m not saying go out and
for it. Gracing them will make them an
doing the right things. It teaches them
spoil them because they decided to
better person in the long term and will
how to act in life and know people will
clean their room, but at least let them
help them realize all the good things
react when they are doing good
know how much you appreciate what
that they can do in their life.
! B O J T A E R G
A+
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Discipline them for
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For the disciplining, it is very essential
they know they’re not supposed to be
school or organization, this would call
to correct your kids for the bad things
throwing a ball in the house but they
for an automatic grounding. No mat-
they do. In my eyes, there are different
do and break something then I think
ter what, it is your child and you will
levels of discipline that should be giv-
a punishment should be given out.
always love them, but it is your duty
en to the child. If they accidently break
Nothing too severe, but something to
to let them know the difference from
something in the house, then ask why
let them know that they can’t do what
right and wrong, so they can grow up
did it happen? And what could you do
we ask them not to do. The last level
to have a better understanding of life.
differently next time to avoid it? The
of discipline would be if they would
next level of discipline would be if
do somehting to get kicked out of
d ! e d n u o r G E R ’ U O Y
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LITTLE
WHITE LIES There are a handful of obviously wrong,
desirable sentiments in your kids. I’m
funny as adults, but childrens minds
damaging and terrible things to say to
sure you have heard at least one fib
don’t see it the same way we do. I think
a child such as “I wish I never had you”
from your parents at one point in your
it is ok to say some things, but make
or “You’re the reason we’re getting a
life growing up. These little white lies
sure you cover it, by saying you were
divorce”. But it may surprise you to
can be detrimental to the trust in your
just kidding.... which you were.
discover that some seemingly harmless
childs life. It can cause your child to
phrases can trigger resentment, dent
lose some or all trust in what you say
self-esteem or bring up other less-than-
to them. Although we may seem it is
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“
If you don’t eat your sandwich crusts you will grow hair on your chest.
“
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“
Don’t pee in the pool otherwise there will be a blue ring.
“
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“
If the ice cream man is playing music then they are all out of ice cream.
“
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“
Dragon flies have needles on their butts and will sew kids mouths shut that curse.
“ 77
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BIBLIOGRAPHY • fira.ca/cms/documents/29/effects_of_father_involvement.pdf • thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/ • childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanual/fatherhood/chaptertwo.cfm • parentsasteachers.org/images/stories/documents/fatherhood_resources/importantroleoffathers.pdf • air.org/files/fatherhoodinvolvementguide.pdf • cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/middle2.html • buzzfeed.com/daves4/funniestlies • wildammo.com/2011/06/03/funny-baby-dos-and-donts-for-new-parents/ • womansday.com/sex-relationships/family/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-your-kids-124227 • fathers.com • fatherhood.org
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COLOPHON This book was created using multiple adobe CS6 programs. The drawings were created by Adobe Illustrator CS6. The illustrations were then put into InDesign, where I added the text to the book. The body and header type is fonts of Gotham. Gotham is a very clean and easy to read typeface that works perfectly for the columns and headers of the book. The typefaces that I used for the quotes were Bodoni and Ostrich Sans InLine fonts. Bodoni is a serif typeface that complimented the lines of Ostrich Sans InLine very well. The book was put together and bound using Blurb.com
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