Becoming a new dad is a life-changing journey for many. It comes with a myriad of challenges but also rewards. As new fathers make their ways through new territory, they also engage with new experiences.

According to the latest research in neuroscience, these interactions with their children may bring about structural changes in the brains of new fathers. As with the work on the mother brain, scientists call these structural changes as the development of the Paternal Brain, or Dad Brain here.

This is where Learner Dad comes in.

Understanding what Dads go through, will help garner a better understanding, or rather, interpret, the different possibilities a Dad Brain can afford any individual to become a better parent but also, a better family member, colleague, citizen.

According to the research, as a new dad participates in what are considered to be, engaged experiences, the brain undergoes significant changes that are crucial for adapting to the new role. These experiences can actually rewire the brain, leading to enhancements in certain areas such as emotional intelligence, decision-making, and even anger management.

Learner Dad wants to take advantage of this by highlighting the importance of these engaged experiences. Engaged Experiences are considered moments of a certain period of time, and, more importantly, intentional focus. By immersing oneself in the activity, whether changing a diaper, feeding, or nursing to sleep, the importance of the ‘moment’ is established by how intentional the behaviour is during the activity.

An engaged experience, repeated over a period of time can determine how embedded the behaviour becomes in the father, as well as, the child. The repeated interaction stimulates the creation of new neuro-pathways, leading to new patterns, ways of doing things, thinking, and emotional responses.

What Leader Dad wants to do is encourage all to make this process of learning new ways in one sphere of life, and adapt it to others where similar benefits could be reaped. This is something of particular interest for leadership, and in-work/professional environments, where these newly learned skills or competencies can be transferred ‘at a whim’.

Of course the intentionality is pivotal. Paying laser attention to a child when walking or feeding is very different to the attention one gives to, maybe, listening to a colleague, or walking through a new recruit at your office. The point of the conversation Learner Dad would like to encourage, is “if the effort is worth it, why not then?”

Incorporating the science of Dad Brain into your personal and professional life can have a profound impact on your overall growth, not just as a father.

Some experiences may not be as intentional, but what Learner Dad would like to encourage is, turning the unintentional or causal, into intentional and purposeful.

Let’s make learning a purposeful endeavour.