CNN —Many arguments about why dads should do more parenting focus on why that would be good for their wives or partners and kids. Simon & SchusterBut with their kids, dads have a chance to explore all these sides and more, often away from the scrutiny of the public eye. Dads really are doing more careIt may not always feel like fathers are doing more parenting, but they are. One cross-national study found that dads spent an average of 16 minutes a day caring for their kids in 1965. Also, dads find parenting “extremely important to their identity,” and enjoyable and rewarding nearly identically as often moms do.

---

Persons: It’s, Elissa Strauss, Simon, Schuster, ” Matt Englar, Carlson, Eric Gardner, Gardner, ” Gardner, ” Stephanie Coontz, ”, Brad Harrington, Harrington, they’re, —, Caregiving, Brian Anderson, David Bullman, Bullman, I’m, “, ” Elissa Strauss Organizations: CNN, Center for Boys, California State University, Fullerton, US Army, Boston College Center for Work, American Psychological Association, Others Locations: Colorado Springs