Stay-at-home dads

According to latest Government statistics, in 2001 there were around 155,000 men staying at home full-time to look after their kids or home, with 60 per cent doing so completely voluntarily. This figure isn't, however, made up entirely of men caring for their children - it's impossible to glean the exact number, even from the Office for National Statistics, which doesn't compile data on housedads - but we do know, even if only by word-of-mouth, that increasing numbers are joining their ranks. Added to this is the growing number of men who are working part-time or flexi-hours in order to take on the job of chief carer.

Increasing support
The social stigma around giving up work to raise a family - which applies almost exclusively to men - is fading away, and there are many more dads in evidence at playgroups and schools, dropping off and picking up in between running the family home. There's a growing need for more resources for stay-at-home dads, such as the website launched by two enterprising full-time fathers. Nick Cavender, who co-founded HomeDad.org.uk with Simon Windisch, says: 'Almost all resources for parents are aimed primarily at mothers. Although we were constantly being told in the media that the number of stay-at-home dads was rising, we felt we didn't have a voice.' He claims that the website, which has over 500 members, is currently the only UK support group dedicated to helping dads who are staying at home to bring up their children.

It's traditionally been thought that men simply can't make as good a job as women can of juggling household chores with spending quality time with the children. Whilst it's largely true that, in most cases, they will run things differently from their female counterparts, that doesn't mean that they are any less committed or able.

We asked three full-time dads how they feel about their roles as primary carer.

Tim's story
Gary's story
Neil's story