--- title: 4 Tips to Improve Dads’ Co-Parenting description: Discover four essential tips to enhance dads' co-parenting skills, tackle common barriers, and foster father involvement for better child outcomes and reduced parental stress. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_4-tips-dads-improve-co-parenting.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/4-tips-to-improve-dads-co-parenting#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [father friendly organization](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/father-friendly-organization) # 4 Tips to Improve Dads’ Co-Parenting 2 min read ![Erik Vecere](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/Erik%20Vecere.png?width=100&height=100&name=Erik%20Vecere.png) [** Erik Vecere ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/erik-vecere) As Chief Partner Success Officer for National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), Erik is responsible for developing and nurturing partnerships with network-based entities that have relationships with human service organizations. ![NFI_Blog_4-tips-dads-improve-co-parenting](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_4-tips-dads-improve-co-parenting.jpg?width=814&height=465&name=NFI_Blog_4-tips-dads-improve-co-parenting.jpg) Image created using * Adobe Firefly.* For many parents, co-parenting can be more battle than partnership. But you can help change that story. How? By using the following tips to improve dads’ co-parenting. ## **1. Understand why co-parenting support for dads is important.** Healthy co-parenting involves **both parents** sharing responsibilities and collaborating. This leads to: - [Better child outcomes](https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.13904), including emotional stability, academic performance, and social skills. - [Reduced parental stress](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12498), conflict, and legal battles. - [Increased father involvement](https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/12616_coparentingrelationships_508new.pdf), especially when dads feel supported, respected, and invited to participate in the parenting process. ## **2. Understand the barriers dads face.** As you develop an approach to improve dads’ co-parenting, recognize their common barriers, such as: - Feeling excluded by service systems or moms. - Limited access due to custody issues, incarceration, or court orders. - Mistrust of systems, especially among those with past negative experiences (e.g., staff unable or unwilling to help and systems focused only on dad’s ability to pay child support). - Cultural norms that still treat moms as default caregivers. Acknowledging these barriers will help you take a more empathetic, father-inclusive approach. ## **3. Support moms in including dads.** Here are some ways to help moms see the value of dads’ involvement in their children’s lives. - Share research showing the benefits of father involvement for child development. - Address concerns about past conflict or behavior with empathy, safety, and healthy boundaries that promote stability and minimize conflict. - Encourage setting up safe and structured ways for dads’ involvement, even when romantic relationships have ended. - Ask open-ended questions like, “Tell me about your child’s dad. What’s your co-parenting relationship like?” - Avoid making assumptions (e.g., assuming a dad is absent or disinterested). [National Fatherhood Initiative](https://www.fatherhood.org/)® (NFI) offers a program called [Understanding Dad](https://store.fatherhood.org/understanding-dad-facilitators-kit/)™ that raises mom’s awareness of the important role dads play in their children’s lives. ## **4. Work with dads to build self-confidence.** Many dads, especially young or nonresident ones, doubt their parenting abilities. Help them: - Identify their strengths as dads. - Learn child development basics. - Develop skills for managing conflict and supporting their co-parent. [24:7 Dad](https://store.fatherhood.org/shop-by-program/24-7-dad/)® is an evidence-based program that helps dads build self-confidence. You’ve read the tips. Now it’s time to apply them and become a champion for improving dads’ co-parenting and father inclusion in your organization. **How does your organization currently include or exclude dads in co-parenting support? What small changes could make a big difference?** **What assumptions might you or your team be making about a parent’s involvement based on gender, custody, or past relationship dynamics?** Date Published: 06/10/2025 Last Updated: 06/10/2025 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/2-levers-in-supporting-incarcerated-dads-mental-health) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/parenting-programs-are-failing-without-fathers-heres-how-to-change-that) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... 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