About Pickens County progress. (Jasper, Ga.) 1899-current | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2024)
“One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” —George Herbert Opinions & Community Views The Progress Editorial June 13, 2024 Father’s Day 2024: Celebrating Fatherhood & Fostering Strong Bonds As Father’s Day approaches this Sunday, it’s time to show appreciation for the unsung heroes in our lives - our dads. This year let’s celebrate the wisdom, support, and love that fathers provide - and of course the occasion al dad joke and questionable fashion sense. Fathers are instrumental in the upbring ing and development of children, and then- presence has a profound impact on the well-being of their families and communi ties. We all know that the importance of fa thers extends beyond their direct influence on their children. Research has shown that children who have involved and supportive fathers are more likely to perform well ac ademically, exhibit healthier social behav iors, and have higher levels of emotional intelligence. Additionally, the presence of a father fig ure has been linked to lower rates of delin quency, substance abuse, and involvement in criminal activities among children and adolescents. The positive effects of involved fathers ripple out into society, creating a more nurturing and supportive environment for all. Let’s pause here to note that “father figures” count just as much. We recognize many circumstances befall families, irrec oncilable differences, deaths, and absentee dads but perhaps there is someone (grandfa ther, uncle, stepdad) who has filled this role or maybe you are or should be filling the role of father figure. A recent Pew Research Center survey from fall 2023 showed that most dads say they feel proud when they think about their young adult children, and they draw a di rect line between their parenting and their children’s successes and failures. Still, Pew found that fathers are “more likely than mothers to feel disconnected from their young adult children, and many fathers ex press a desire for more frequent communi cation.” So, call your dad. Or take him out to din ner or, even better, stop by for a visit. Pew found that the majority of both moms and dads with a young adult child aged 18 to 34 say they’re as involved in their child’s day-to-day life as they’d like to be. But fa thers are less likely than mothers to feel this way (63% of dads vs. 70% of moms). Moms, Pew found, report “more fre quent communication than dads do through specific channels, including texting, calling and in-person visits. Texting: 63% of dads and 81% of moms say they text their young child at least a few times a week. Four in ten moms text with their child daily; 19% of dads do the same. Take advantage of this Father’s Day and reflect on how invaluable our father figures are to us - and turn that into action. In an age where life moves fast, Father’s Day provides an opportunity to slow down and express gratitude. Let’s go beyond the cli- ched gifts and cards and truly convey our appreciation for the men who have made a profound impact on our lives. Whether it’s a heartfelt conversation, a shared activity, or a simple “thank you,” the sentiment behind the gesture holds immeasurable value. Get the family over and grill something - that’ll satisfy almost any “old man.” Fathers play a crucial role in shaping the lives of their children through their love, wisdom, and unwavering support. In a world that often emphasizes the im portance of mothers, Father’s Day serves as a reminder to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of fathers. When you have a good dad, you have something. It’s a day to recognize the tireless dedication and hard work that goes into being a father and to show appreciation for the countless ways in which they enrich the lives of their families and our community. Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing fathers out there. Agree or disagree? Give us your thoughts with a letter to the editor. 400 words or less, senttoarticles@pickensprogress.com.Westrivetoincludevoicesfromallourcommunity. Civil War skirmishes next topic at historical society meeting Hear Gerald Flinchum discuss Civil War events in North Georgia Next in the Historical Society speaker series will be author and historian Ger ald Flinchum discussing the civil war in North Cobb and South Cherokee Counties. The talk will be will be Wednesday, June 26th. at Pendley Creek Brewery on TRADITION TREE SERVICE Jasper, GA Generations of Tree Care • Free Estimates • Fully Insured • Tree Removal • Tree Pruning •Brush Chipping with our new chipper traditiontreeservice80@gmail.com Georgia Arborist Association Member Josh Bail C: 678-848-1751 H: 706-253-0122 (USPS 431-820) Published by Pickens County Progress, Inc. 94 North Main Street, Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-2457 www.pickensprogressonline.com DAN POOL Publisher/Editor Published each Thursday at Jasper, Pickens County, Georgia. Entered at the Post Office at Jasper, Georgia 30143 as Mail Matter of Second Class. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS, 94 N. Main St., Jasper, GA 30143. One Year Subscription: $45.00 for residents of Pickens County or the cities of Ball Ground, Fairmount, and Ranger; $57.00 for all other Georgia residents; $68.00 out of state residents. Civil War Skirmishes in Chnrokctj and North Cobb Counties: 1864 Crossroads, Creeks, and Clashei Jasper’s Main Street begin ning at 7p.m. In 2008 Flinchum’s re search showed these so called “minor skirmishes” were anything but minor for area residents. Civilians were caught in the middle of the skirmish es, the looting going on for both sides of the war which spread into north Georgia. TOPS Weight Loss Support Need weight loss sup port? Try TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Call Victoria Cham- plin at 706-897-2376. WEATHER By William Dilbeck HI LOW RAIN June 04 78 66 .07 June 05 79 64 .03 June 06 80 64 .13 June 07 79 55 .00 June 08 80 60 .03 June 09 83 60 .13 June 10 78 55 .00 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY from the Pickens County Progress Other Voices Summer play for children crucial to learning By Mary Migliaro Parent Educator Oh no! School has just been out for a couple of weeks and parents every where are thinking about what their kids are doing or in some cases not doing. Think back on childhood memories of summer play time, adventure, leisure time to discover hobbies, and spending time with friends. Not only are these memo ries priceless, but the times we spent playing dining the summer were actually fun damental to every aspect of developing into who we are today. Child development hap pens in moments of freedom — free play, free choice, and free time. Researchers found that when children engage in unstructured play, daydreaming, risk taking, and independent discovery, they are aiding the develop ment of children’s executive functioning. On average, children spend more than seven hours in front of a screen daily. This can affect their sleep, self-esteem, and more. Freedom to play away from screens promotes healthy sleep, social skills, physical fitness, and key motor skills. Summer fun often brings communities together. This sense of community throughout childhood can raise adults who are well-ad justed, active, and generous members of society. One of the more common activities for some children dining the summer months is summer camp. For parents who can afford the summer camps, these provide excel lent resources and activities for children to prevent bore dom and allow them physi cal activity every day. If you are fortunate enough to have a YMCA or a YWCA in your com munity, seek them out and find out what programs they have for summer ac tivities and summer camp. Very often, those activities and even summer camp can be accessed at a reasonable price. Sometimes the Y also has scholarships available to help offset the cost. Another resource is Girl Scout and Boy Scout camps. Even if camps are not avail able, scout groups usually meet during the summer, helping kids stay connected to classmates while they en joy activities and even field trips. Dining summer camp, children participate in a variety of group activities. They learn how to work as a team, communicate with other children, and solve problems on their own. Kids learn to become more self-reliant as they explore their interests and discover their strengths and weak nesses. In the event summer camp is not an option for your children, consider one of these examples: Discover new things on a walk. Turn a family na ture walk into an enjoyable adventure for every-one, even if it is a route you have taken a hundred times be fore. Have a list of things for kids to spot (butterfly, squirrel, cardinal, etc.) and give points to the first child to spot each item. Download engaging apps for summer learn ing. Need some productive screen time? From online games to mobile apps, give your brain a boost and beat the heat with these six PBS KIDS apps... https://www. pbs.org/parents/thrive/6- pbs-kids-apps-for-summer- leaming. Explore the sea (with a paper plate aquarium!). Even if a summer vacation is not on the calendar this year, families can still enjoy a trip to the ocean togeth er — you just need a paper plate and some imagination! Turn a pool noodle into an imaginary horse! Turn summer break into summer fun with a one-of-a-kind pool noodle horse. Attach some yam or string to the top of one end of the noodle and use your imagination. Giddy up Introduce your child to new sports and activities to help them develop a range of skills. Remember to be encouraging while not hold ing the expectation that they will be the best at everything they try. For thousands more activities, simply Google “summer activities for kids” and dive in. You will find something for each of your children and things your family can do together this summer. Mary Migliaro M.Ed. is an educator and parent mentor. She can be reached at marymigliaro@aol.com. 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