January 19, 2004 --

By Ben Swann-KFOX News At Nine Anchor/Reporter

When your toddler takes his first steps, do you cheer him on, while your wife rushes to protect him? In this edition of our Parenting Report, we find out that it's OK for father's to have different parenting styles and that there's a way Mom's can Make- Room-For-Daddy's.

As a stay-at-home dad to 5-year-old Claire and 2-year-old Cole, Vaughn Dennis knows how important Father's are to kids. Although he takes on more of the childcare duties than most, experts say its hard to overestimate the significance of Dad's.

Kyle Pruett Ph.D.-Child Expert: "We know that Daughter's who have involved Father's tend to feel more confident in school, particularly in math and science areas. Boy's who have Father's involved in their lives tend to feel more comfortably assertive, without being aggressive."

Mom's may recognize the importance of a male role model, but sometimes its hard to make room for a spouse, especially when parenting styles differ. Here are some ways to make the most of a parenting partnership:

-Don't insist that your spouse do everything the same way you do. Vaughn serves up cookies and milk for an after school snack, though the kids know when moms home they get cut-up vegetables.

-Encourage your partner to spend time alone with each child. Many Dad's rely on their Wife to be the experts, and feel left out of the mix or unskilled as a result.

-Support your spouse in front of the Kid's, and let them see you work out differences. Children know when their parents disagree, and may try to play one off the other.

Remember, Mom's and Dad's share a common goal to do what's best for their kid's.

Find more helpful Parenting information by visiting Parenting Magazines website.

http://www.parenting.com/parenting/