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Fatherhood is more than what you do, says Christian charity amid top 50 poll

by Aaron James

Who Let the Dads Out was speaking after a poll of 2,000 fathers revealed keeping calm during family arguments was the most important skill for them to have.

Good driving despite regular distraction, un-doing difficult knots and putting up a tent also featured in the top five.

Role play in children's fantasy games, the ability the throw properly and cleaning football boots were lower down.

On average, a dad was able to do 46 per cent of things on the list, with nearly half (49 per cent) feeling like they've let people down if they've been unable to construct or repair something in the house.

Almost all fathers (96 per cent) thought it was important to be practical, with two-thirds planning to pass on those skills to their kids.

1. Being calm during family arguments

2. Driving while constantly being distracted

3. Fixing a bike puncture

4. Undoing difficult knots

5. Putting up a tent

6. Keeping confidences

7. Double checking nothing has been left behind

8. Setting up and tuning the TV

9. Cooking on a barbeque

10. Tying shoe laces

11. Blowing up lots of balloons

12. Tying school ties

13. Changing a tyre

14. Setting up WiFi

15. Plastering holes in walls

16. Flipping pancakes

17. Putting up a bunk bed

18. Teaching to swim

19. Able to cook a fry-up

20. Setting up a new game on the computer

21. Lighting a fire

22. Fixing toys

23. Telling bad jokes

24. Go-to person for opening jars

25. Setting up a new games console

26. Cleaning stains off carpets

27. Fitting a loose bicycle chain

28. Removing adhesive substances off surfaces

29. Taking kids to after school clubs

30. Removing toys from tough packaging

31. Setting up new toys

32. Teaching how to play football

33. Taking good family photos

34. Pumping up footballs

35. Picking blackberries

36. Flying kites

37. Making a good bacon sandwich

38. Rebooting computers

39. Setting up a paddling pool

40. Fixing scooters

41. Building tricky playsets

42. Updating mobile phones

43. Putting up birthday banners

44. Always having the right batteries

45. Soothing a nettle sting

46. Role play

47. Installing tricky software on laptops

48. Building good sandcastles

49. Throwing properly

50. Cleaning football boots

Speaking on Premier's News Hour Mark Chester, from Who Let the Dads Out, said: "It was great fun going through the list but no, I don't think we should feel bad [if we can't do certain things].

"Being a great father isn't about a checklist of skills really, it's a lot more complex than that.

"It says in the study that seven in ten say men are now relied on more than ever to help out and raise the children - I think that's a great thing. We're at the beginning of a golden age of fatherhood, I think."

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speaking to Mark Chester on the News Hour:

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