Fathers' How-to Manual

The Scotsman has an article today about a new book for fathers. Published as part of the Haynes series -- manuals that offer advice on fixing cars and motorcycles and such -- the Toddler Owners' Workshop Manual will apparently offer practical, tongue-in-cheek advice for dads who want to understand how to deal with their kids' public tantrums or how to prevent their children from tumbling headlong down the stairs. In the article, Cynthia McVey, head of psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University, explained that the book responds to genuine transformations in fathers' roles.

"If we went back 50 years, a book like this would never have been considered. The woman's role was in the home as the principal care-giver and the man's job was to earn the money, come home and then be looked after – like the toddler."

The key was how the information was delivered to fathers. "A man might browse through a book written in this jokey manner and find that the style of it suits him better. It could be a novel way of getting the message across."

But McVey offered a word of caution. "The father might find this car-like approach quite appealing, but of course the important thing to remember is that children are not machines and toddlers will rarely behave the way you expect them to." Haynes has provided information for motorists with their car manuals for almost 50 years, so the company said it seemed natural to offer the same style of information for the family as well.

Sales and marketing director Jeremy Yates-Round said: "Men always need help with their cars and we know they need help with their toddlers. Now we can help with both."

Based on the description in the article, the advice in this book seems no different than the advice dispensed by (literally) dozens of similar books. I suppose there's no point in grousing about it; the medium is less important than the message, and if it takes this sort of vehicle to persuade certain fathers to play more of an active role in their toddlers' lives, all the better.

Still, you'd think the publishers would have their act together a little more than they appear; oddly enough, I haven't been able to find links to the book either on Amazon or on the company's own web site. Haynes has obviously gotten the press interested in the book, since articles about it have appeared in several other places. But the publicity might not do them much good if finding the book proves harder than rebuilding a car engine.

TAGS: Advice, Books, Fatherhood
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