Parents urged to ‘actively’ plan schedule around family time
A father wheelbarrows his three kids at the Dad's Day Out event, at the OCBC Square next to the Singapore Sports Hub on June 19, 2016. Photo: Robin Choo/TODAY
SINGAPORE — It can be as simple as chatting with one’s children while ferrying them to school, or waking up early to catch a sunrise on camera together.
While parents often feel that they lack sufficient time with their families, it is important to “actively” plan one’s schedule around family, instead of leaving it to “leftover time”, or relegating the role to others, like domestic help, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin.
Speaking at the first-ever Dad’s Day Out carnival at Singapore Sports Hub on Sunday (June 19), held in conjunction with Father’s Day, Mr Tan said: “Sometimes while waiting for the sun to set or waiting for the light to change, you can just spend a moment to chat ... Or spending that half hour in the car with them ... There’s no magic formula but to just be there for them ... It makes a lot of difference.”
He noted that while it is not possible for the authorities to legislate family time, the Government can do more by providing avenues like workshops and resources for families to come together.
“At the end of the day, when you get older, you’re not going to be thinking about the missed opportunities for career advancement or making more money ... It will invariably be family first,” he said.
More than 10,000 people attended the carnival, which was organised as part of the Dads for Life initiative by the Centre for Fathering.
Hundreds of fathers on Sunday (June 19) thronged the event, with some gamely participating in obstacle course relays and scribbling pledges, while others sat in for photography and parenting workshops, and even enjoyed free massages.
The Dads for Life football team, made up of ex-national players including Lionel Lewis and Robert Sim, and also Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck, was also unveiled.
Acting as ambassadors, the team will play monthly friendly matches with various groups such as Father’s Groups in schools, prison groups and companies.
The team’s manager Mr Collin Chee, 49, said he would take the chance to offer parenting tips to other fathers from his experience.
“It’s a good opportunity for fathers to come out; and play a heavier role, especially as mothers start working.”
Among the fathers to visit the carnival was Mr Simon Lee, 36, who said he makes it a point to coach his nine-year old son in subjects like Mathematics and English on a daily basis, while his wife supervises his studies for Chinese.
“It’s a two-way thing ... Parents have to (take charge) and make the effort,” the engineer said.
Technical supervisor Lee Weng Mun, 49, said that while work commitments can take a toll, he tries to work in whatever time he has to do sports with his seven-year-old daughter.
“We go to Sentosa to swim, run or ride on scooters ... It’s a way to just spend more time with each other,” he said.
