Fathers have important role in preschool program

Fathers and father figures were encouraged to participate in the early years of their children’s academic life during St. Mary’s Head Start orientation program Tuesday at the Civic Center near Patterson.

Attending a parent orientation is mandatory for a child’s entrance into the Head Start program. More times than others, mothers are more involved in these activities than fathers.

But through Head Start’s Family Service program, the Fatherhood Initiative, Albert “David” Teno III, coordinator, strives to get more men involved early in educational development.

The Fatherhood Initiative is “to get men, fathers and father figures to get involved with their kids, especially on the Head Start level,” Teno said.

“We welcome any young man 16 years and older who is clean and decent. We do background checks when someone is working with kids. We welcome them to get involved with the kids.”

His overall message to the orientation attendees, and more specifically to the men, was that their presence makes a difference in the life of a child.

“You do make a difference when you walk into a Head Start class,” Teno said. “Children gravitate towards men because most times it’s just women in Head Start. And it is a myth that Head Start is just for women and children.”

When men are involved in the lives of their kids, especially on a Head Start level with little boys, the boys are less likely to commit crimes or be incarcerated when they get older, Teno said.

Statistics will show that with men involved in the lives of their little girls, based on the Head Start level, the girls are less likely to become pregnant teenagers.

Men are encouraged to volunteer at least two hours or more at Head Start centers. At the end of the year, the father or father figure with the most hours is selected for the Father of the Year award.

Fun events for fathers and children are planned throughout the school year. Information about the events are scheduled out in enough time for fathers to take off from work.

“We’ve got an exercise class for the dad program aligned with Michelle Obama’s Move program,” Teno said. “We plan several fun activities, including a basketball activity shooting free throws, and fishing tournament.”

Last year, approximately 160 dads were involved. Before that, the numbers were in the 200s. The number fluctuates.

“Getting men is a challenge,” Teno said. “Men are just slow about going to schools and classrooms to spend their days. My dad didn’t believe in that. He was a principal and administrator .

“Men like to send kids, not chaperone. Most think chaperoning is a thing of the past, but it’s very, very needed. So that, I think, is the challenge of getting men involved.”

Lantrell Ayers, father of M’Kye Tillman, 4, is up for the challenge. His son will be attending Yogi Bear Head Start in Morgan City.

Ayers said the orientation was a nice event.

“They want adults to interact with the little kids, so that’s what I’m going to be doing,” Ayers said. “I’m going to try to come and do everything I can with my son.”

Teno mentioned that some men don’t want to come to the classroom based on their own experiences in school. Over the years, Head Start made improvements to create environments that are welcoming to fathers.

Ayers is not intimidated about helping in the classroom and encourages other fathers who are not in the home to make an effort.

“It’s very important for fathers to come and be involved with their child in Head Start,” Ayers said. “If you aren’t there supporting them, do what you can to get into the little ones’ life. Do what you can and help out.”

Parents and teachers have noticed a difference when men are involved in the classroom, Teno said.

“I’m saying, starting in Head Start, but even in high schools,” Teno said. “There are programs in high schools to get men going in patrolling the halls. It changes the whole scope of what’s going on.”

On the Head Start level, “I’ve seen changes. Sometimes we have little boys, and some little girls, act out,” Teno said. “But when a male is there to kind of just step in, just standing there makes a difference.”

Teno has been involved with Head Start for over 20 years. He believes the involvement of men in the program not only builds the self-esteem of children, but the men, too.

“We need the men to come get involved,” Teno said. “And I promise , it will change even the hardest of men. Kids will melt you.

“I’ve seen grown men get involved in a Head Start program and break down with tears running down their face because they’re involved with kids.”

The first day of Head Start is Thursday. Parents are asked to bring their children dressed in uniform with their school supplies by 8:15 a.m.

For more information about the Fatherhood Initiative program or Head Start, call 337-828-5703.