Ledger-Dispatch

By Scott Thomas Anderson (sanderson@ledger-dispatch.c= om)=20

Hannah Mottishaw and her dad, Joel, = share a=20 moment before they head down the slide at a Dad & Me = event.

Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger=20 Dispatch
As a long-time teacher, Gary = Landergen is=20 used to spending time with other peoples' kids - and talking about them, = too.=20 But when it comes to spending time with his own little daughter, = Keilawnee, the=20 chaos of everyday life can make it tough.

Luckily, First 5 = Amador's Dad=20 & Me program is giving local fathers like Landergen a chance to = spend=20 fun-filled afternoons with their children, while also talking to other = dads=20 about the challenges they face connecting with their young children.=20

First 5 Amador is an organization that funds programs for = children ages=20 0 to 5. According to Cheri Garamendi, the group's School Readiness = Coordinator,=20 a recent study suggested that young children in Amador had a need for = more=20 father involvement. "The assessment we did looked at a lot of different = aspects=20 of early childhood," she said. "One thing we found was that fathers are=20 sometimes very involved at birth, and then very involved again at about = the age=20 of 5 or 6 - but that there can sometimes be a drop off in between."=20

Garamendi said that when a child reaches the age of 5, many = fathers feel=20 like they can get involved more easily through sporting events and other = activities. "But zero through 5 are a very critical time in = development," she=20 said. "The Dad & Me program is aimed at helping fathers get more = engaged=20 during those years, through structured playtimes and = activities."

Often=20 held at Amador Cooperative Preschool in Jackson, each Dad & Me day = has a=20 theme the afternoon's itinerary is built around. Recent outings have = been=20 entitled "Daddy Appleseed," "Harvesting & Hibernating," "Winter = Wonders with=20 Dad & Me" and "Look Dad, I'm growing." So far, children and fathers = in the=20 program have spent their energy on planting, arts and crafts, water play = and an=20 assortment of games.

The program's leader, local father Dave = Tearpak,=20 stressed that Dad & Me was open to all adult males who play a = prominent role=20 in the life of a young child. "While it's geared to fathers, = grandfathers and=20 uncles are also welcomed," explained Tearpak. "The main idea is for = children to=20 have a play day with their dads and other men in their lives. There's = always art=20 projects, a healthy snack, story time - the basic things you'd get in a=20 preschool environment."

According to Dan Klement, a father who=20 participates in Dad & Me, the afternoons also provide a great chance = for=20 fathers to socialize. "The program is a great way to meet other dads, = share=20 stories and ideas about your kids, and of course bond with your child," = he said.=20 "After spending the day with your child and meeting other dads and their = kids,=20 you leave feeling good about your relationship with your child and more=20 connected to a community of people."

For Landergen's daughter, = the=20 events have been extremely fun. "Keilawnee still talks about planting a = flower=20 at the very first Dad & Me event I took her to," Landergen said. "So = far=20 it's been a really enjoyable experience for both of us." Landergen added = that=20 having Dad & Me events on the calendar helps keep him focused on the = importance of quality time with his daughter. "An event gets planned and = you=20 know that's the day you need to be there," he said. "It's good, because = with how=20 busy life gets, it's nice to know I've got this time set aside for just = me and=20 her."

The next Dad & Me event is July 19. For more = information, call=20 First 5 Amador's Cheri Garamendi at 257-1092.

Scott Thomas = Anderson