Australian dads give kids six minutes a day: study

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SYDNEY, Oct 20 (AFP): Australian fathers spend only six minutes alone with their children on weekdays, according to new research which found that dads Down Under leave most child-raising chores to their female partners.
In a study which also looked at parenting roles in Denmark, France, Italy and the United States, researcher Lyn Craig found that Australian fathers were among the most traditional.
"The difference between men's and women's lives when they have children is particularly pronounced in Australia," Craig told the news agency.
"In terms of the total amount of child care that's done within a household in Australia, 10 per cent of it will be done alone by the father and 90 per cent of it will be done alone by the mother.
Craig, from the University of New South Wales Social Policy Research Centre, said that Australian fathers spent more time with their children on weekends, but this was mostly as part of a family group than as a solo dad.
And when they were alone with their offspring, Australian fathers were less likely to do the chores of bathing or feeding the child and more likely to take them to the park or play games with them, she said, adding that men are more prone to volunteer only for "the fun stuff".
Craig said Australia was quite traditional in comparison to the other countries, with only 18.5 per cent of households having both parents in full-time work compared with 64.7 per cent of households in Denmark.