"Today's dads want more direction...and more information. In fact, 92 percent said knowing more up-to-date information would make them better dads."
- 2000 Harris Poll
Founded on Father's Day, June 15, 2003, DADS Unlimited™ LLC (www.daddying.com) is dedicated to demystifying parenting and developing a comprehensive range of services and resources that support parenting. Its focus is on enabling fathers to become the lifelong dads they want to be, and that kids want and need them to be. DADS Unlimited meets the needs of families at a time of heightened uncertainty, challenge, and ever-accelerating change when parents are reassessing priorities and the need for quality parenting is particularly urgent.
Led by president and CEO Allan Shedlin, Jr., DADS Unlimited helps dads learn the practical art and craft of "daddying" - a father's (or surrogate father's) active, lifelong commitment to his child's physical, emotional, social, intellectual/creative, and moral/spiritual well being. The organization provides practical, support services and products, enhanced by ongoing research into the needs and perceptions of dads and children of all ages and walks of life.
DADS Unlimited's products and parenting consulting services also benefit community-based organizations, corporations, government agencies and other third-party partners who would like to make them available to their members, employees or constituents. An important component of DADS Unlimited will be its nonprofit arm, which will provide parenting consulting services to local clinics and assist emerging and struggling grassroots fatherhood initiatives nationwide.
Based in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, DADS Unlimited will exchange information and collaborate when appropriate, with a variety of other parenting organizations. DADS Unlimited also plans to partner with other third-party groups and corporate sponsors to develop daddying initiatives in a number of key areas, including schools, faith-based, amateur and professional sports, and other grassroots programs benefiting parents and children locally and nationally.
In 1994, Shedlin coined the term "daddying" to distinguish the active, ongoing process of male parenting from the one-time, biological act of fathering. Daddying is the convergence of fatherhood and nurturing, and is a lifelong process encouraged by multiple influences. Daddying is a role that may be played by other influential adults, including grandfathers, uncles, brothers, mentors, coaches, clergy, etc.
Products and Services
DADS Unlimited will provide families ready access to a variety of practical,
research-based services, resources, and products. Based upon current
research and guided by a panel of experts drawn from a wide variety
of disciplines in both child and adult development, DADS Unlimited's
products and services will have special appeal to men, but be useful
to women and men alike.
DADS Unlimited's first available services are parenting consulting and school-home liaison services, which focus on addressing common, everyday parenting challenges. Allan Shedlin, Jr., a career educator, child and family consultant and advocate, lifelong dad, granddad, and son, will provide the consulting and liaison services. Shedlin has particular expertise in:
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Parenting issues across the lifespan - issues involving children and/or their grandparents
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School-Home Liaison - issues benefiting from a "broker" between family and school: parent, child, and others significant to the family and teacher(s) and other school personnel - may include school visits when deemed helpful
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Grandparenting issues
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Specific behavioral issues.
In addition, DADS Unlimited will offer regular pro bono services at local family clinics. Other products, tools and informational resources, such as a "Parenting Clashpoints" booklet series, presentations to organizations and corporations, and "Daddying" merchandise, are available and in development.
