Since 2015, Daughters & Dads has been encouraging girls and their dads to play sports together like cricket, football and basketball. It’s an evidence-backed program delivering life-changing results to girls, dads and families.

Now WestCycle is set to pilot Daughters & Dads Cycling as the latest innovative version of the program, in partnership with the University of Newcastle and Healthway.

It will be the first time the internationally renowned program has engaged cycling – with WestCycle onboard to deliver it beginning in Term 1.

“Daughters & Dads is all about creating environments where young girls can participate in sports, get active, develop critical thinking, have fun and gain the self-esteem and independence benefits that flow from that,” said WestCycle Strategic Projects Manager, Sarah Nisbet.

‘Daughters & Dads Active and Empowered’ emerged in 2015 out of research at the University of Newcastle showing the immense benefits of positive father involvement on children’s self-esteem, physical activity and overall health behaviours.

“It’s drawing on the positive roles fathers can play to inspire and motivate and nurture their daughters,” Nisbet said. “At a time when cycling participation rates are falling among all children, these kinds of well-structured, research-backed programs have the potential to really change behaviours and attitudes among young girls – and build their confidence and resilience.”

Dads benefit too

But it’s not just daughters drawing benefits. With statistics showing a high percentage of fathers taking a somewhat secondary role in their daughter’s development, the program has spurred many dads to new levels of engagement and influence in their daughters’ lives.

“Fathers gain the satisfaction of seeing their daughters develop skills and confidence, forming closer bonds, and smashing through gender stereotypes that only limit girls and their sporting opportunities,” Nisbet said.

“Many dads who have been through a Daughters & Dads course have in fact become strong voices for gender equality – not to mention better dads!”

The initial program is structured for girls aged 5-11 years old and combines theory and practical elements.

One of the key targets will be to challenge parental bike safety concerns that are common blocks to children riding to school, and riding bikes more often.

Daughters & Dads: A little history

Daughters & Dads was launched in response to falling rates of physical activity among Australian adolescent girls, and rising numbers of girls with serious self-esteem issues.

Its impact has seen it receive widespread government support and expand into most Australian states as well as countries like Austria and the UK.

Its conception drew on the Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids program developed by professor Phil Morgan from the University of Newcastle that focused on, “positive lifestyle role modelling and effective parenting strategies”.

“Research has consistently demonstrated the unique and powerful influence dads wield in shaping physical activity behaviours, learning ability, self-esteem, body image, social skills and resilience, particularly for girls,” said professor Morgan. “Physical activity is a unique domain to foster this relationship.”

Media enquiries:

Shane Starling

WestCycle Communications Manager

Phone: 0492 897 199

Email: shane.starling@westcycle.org.au

Background and additional information

• Only 20% of Perth children travel to school by active transport.
• Research shows less than 10% of teenage girls can adequately perform basic sport skills such as kicking, catching and throwing.[2]
• Only one in five adolescent girls meet Australian physical activity recommendations – while activity rates have been slipping across the board, adolescent boys are much more active than adolescent girls.
• Self-belief in girls starts to decline as early as 7 years old.[3]
• Girls enter sport two years later than boys on average, and drop out of sport six times faster.
• More information on the program is here. 

[1] https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/activetransport/active-travel-to-school.asp

[2] https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/kids-drop-ball-on-sports-skills-ng-ya-383788

[3] https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=27408