Revealed: The ideal DAD, according to science - and why Modern Family's Phil Dunphy is almost perfect

Daily Mail​

15-06-2025

As Father's Day arrives, many of us will be taking time to reflect on exactly what makes a great dad.
Some of the key attributes are surely dependability, honesty, loyalty, involvement, compassion and a sense of fun.
But as modern childhood continues to evolve, it can be difficult for fathers to get the overall balance right.
Now, scientists have revealed the popular on-screen dads who could help blokes become better parents.
Topping the list is Phil Dunphy from Modern Family, who is known for his quirky sense of humour and optimistic outlook on life.
Meanwhile, Bandit from Bluey has been called one of greatest dads in fiction due to his playfulness and childlike love for mischief.
And when it comes to never-ending dedication and care, Marlin from Pixar 's Finding Nemo is the one to look to.
So, how do your parenting skills stack up against these on-screen dads?
Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
Phil Dunphy from the American TV series Modern Family is frequently seen as a positive role model.
A devoted family man, Mr Dunphy views himself as the 'cool' and 'hip' dad who constantly tries to find ways to bond with his three kids.
Surely his most entertaining quality is his never-ending stream of dad jokes, like 'WTF: why the face?' and 'if you love something set it free, unless it's a tiger'.
For some children, dad jokes are a cause for utter red-faced embarrassment, but they may also be an example of excellent parenting.
Getting a laugh from a child help diffuse that tension and hierarchy and help both parties feel better about a stressful situation.
'Humour can teach people cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem solving and resilience,' said Benjamin Levi, professor of pediatrics and humanities at Penn State College of Medicine.
Bandit (Bluey)
The phenomenally successful Australian children's show 'Bluey' follows a family of four human-like dogs – dad Bandit, mum Chilli, and daughters Bluey and Bingo.
The dad Bandit has been criticised as being 'unrealistic' because he drops everything to play along with his two daughters' imaginary scenarios.
But according to experts, he represents an ideal standard for dads to strive for when it comes to providing care and attention to their children.
David Burton and Kate Cantrell, arts lecturers at the University of Southern Queensland, describe Bandit as an 'entertaining and engaged father'.
'He balances the drudgery of housework with the creative escapades of his daughters, repurposing everyday objects and actions for imaginative play and engagement,' they said in The Conversation.
Dr David Isaacs, consultant paediatrician at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, called Bandit a 'hands-on father engaged in active play with his children'.
'Bandit often joins in the girls' play, in fact is so involved that some watching Dads report feeling inadequate, although hopefully others feel stimulated to play more with their children,' he said.
However, there is a 'darker side' to Bandit, as his playful teasing of his two daughters sometimes turns into bullying, according to Burton and Cantrell.
'He censors himself from engaging in full imaginative play when under the gaze of other men, he teases his wife on the pains of pregnancy and labour,' they said.
Daddy Pig (Peppa Pig)
In 'Peppa Pig', Daddy Pig is the cheerful, overweight figure who is often considered 'silly' by his family, which has recently gained another member.
Ben McCann, associate professor at the University of Adelaide's School of Humanities in Australia, called him 'TV's greatest dad'.
'Daddy Pig is constantly being fat-shamed and ridiculed, yet he remains steadfast and hardworking,' he said in a recent piece for The Conversation.
'He is jovial, explains science to his family, (eventually) listens to his wife and children and, most importantly, never loses his patience.'
Daddy Pig is constantly happy to be the butt of his family's jokes, especially regarding his appearance, which has been the subject of controversy in the past.
However, Daddy Pig is an example of a 'hapless dad' – one that's clueless and inept when it comes to handling chores and responsibilities.
'Hapless dads struggle to cook, clean or care for children, and rely on others (usually the mother) to bail them out,' said Professor McCann.
'They have good intentions, but they're bad at following through – and their efforts often backfire.'
Marlin (Finding Nemo)
In Pixar's beloved 2003 film 'Finding Nemo', the clownfish Marlin risks his life to find his lost son Nemo off the east coast of Australia.
He promises to never let anything happen to his son – and subsequently spends most of the film trying to keep that promise.
However, at the same time, Marlin has been described as a 'negative, 'overprotective' and 'controlling' father whose behaviour is largely dictated by anxious thoughts.
Marlin's main characteristics [are] 'overprotective, neurotic, paranoid, and pessimistic,' researcher Yudi Nirwanto at the University of Mataram in a 2017 paper.
Clinical psychologist Dr Laura Jean called him 'dad of the year' for overcoming his anxiety and swimming across the ocean to save Nemo.
'At the core he wants his son to be safe but unfortunately, unintentionally his anxiety and safety behaviours push people away and end up confirming his worst fear,' she said.
Steven Keaton (Family Ties)
Those old enough may remember 1980s sitcom 'Family Ties' set in Columbus, Ohio, which used to be aired on Channel 4 in the UK.
It followed the Keaton family, including ex-hippie dad Steven (Michael Gross) and son Alex (Michael J. Fox, later known as the star of the 'Back to the Future' films).
While sometimes argumentative, Mr Keaton is shown to be a supportive, diligent and empathetic father who cares about his family deeply.
Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, a professor of developmental psychology at the Ohio State University, said Mr Keaton is her 'all-time favorite TV dad'.
'Mr Keaton was a progressive dad who had a more caring and nurturing approach to parenthood,' Professor Schoppe-Sullivan said.
'[He] foreshadowed the ways many of today's dads are incorporating more caring masculinities into their identities as fathers.
'As a dad, Steven is warm and affectionate with his children, goofy in an endearing dad-like way, but not incompetent.'
Pete Brockman (Outnumbered)
Lastly, in BBC sitcom 'Outnumbered', Pete Brockman (Hugh Dennis) endures a chaotic lifestyle as a father of three children, now adults.
Despite their constant misbehaving as youngsters, he calmly navigates a hectic family life with deadpan humour.
And he always returns rational, sensible explanations to his children's endless barrage of curious questions, without losing his temper.
Other TV dads
Professor René Mõttus, psychologist at the University of Edinburgh, said other good on-screen dads are Charlie Swan in 'Twilight', Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and Gomez Addams in 'The Addams Family'.
'In my views, a good father is someone who does not try to shape or interfere,' Professor Mõttus said.
'He lets his children grow into the people they want to become, but he is there when needed.
'I guess this means respecting his children and their privacy and agency and helping them to discover the things they want to discover.'
20 punny 'dad jokes' guaranteed to elicit groans and shaking heads
Elevators terrify me... I'm taking steps to avoid them.
I got an e-mail saying 'At Google Earth, we can even read maps backwards', and I thought... 'That's just spam...'
What do you call a man with no shins? Tony.
Me and my friends put a band together, we named it 999 megabytes. Still don't have a gig though.
I got into a fight with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The odds were against me.
I had a dream the ocean was filled with orange soda. It was a Fanta Sea.
Just got hospitalized due to a peekaboo accident. They put me in the ICU.
In college I was so broke I couldn't afford the electricity bill. Those were the darkest days of my life.
I went to the Doctor with hearing problems. He said 'Can you describe the symptoms?' I said: 'Homer's a fat dude and Marge has blue hair.'
I said to my wife: 'When I die I'd like to die having sex.' She replied: 'At least it'll be quick.'
I've decided I want a pet termite. I'm going to call him Clint. Clint Eatswood.
So many people these days are too judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them.
How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? 10-tickles.
'Dad, can you tell me what a solar eclipse is?' No sun.
I figured out why Teslas are so expensive. It's because they charge a lot.
Guess who I bumped into on my way to get my glasses fixed? Everybody.
My wife blocked me on Facebook because I post too many bird puns. Well, toucan play at that game.
Did you hear about the new Origami Porn channel? It's paper view only.
I was really angry when I ran into my friend Mark who stole my dictionary. I said, 'Mark, my words!'
I used to make loads of money clearing leaves from gardens. I was raking it in.