DADs Network is working to change traditional expectations that discourage fathers from bonding more deeply with their children
Younger generations of Hong Kong dads are increasingly eager to engage more with their children, but often face challenges due to limited time and parenting skills, an NGO has said ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday.
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Allen Ha Wing-on, co-founder of the DADs Network, said that traditional expectations and busy schedules posed obstacles for local fathers.
“Traditionally, not just in Asia, fathers are expected to provide financially, but are not necessarily very engaged relationally,” said the father of two, whose organisation has spent a decade advocating for a more prominent role for dads.
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“Even though the young generations of fathers are very keen to be involved, they find it difficult to navigate between work demands and meaningful family engagement.”
He further explained that the high pressure and long working hours, combined with children’s busy schedules, including after-school activities, often resulted in “weak and unsustainable” bonds between children and fathers.
He added that, unlike mothers, fathers did not naturally get together as a community. This observation motivated him to establish an organisation in 2015 dedicated to creating a networking platform for dads, alongside arranging father-child activities.
As of this year, the organisation has worked with more than 150 schools and reached over 10,000 fathers, children and family members across the city.
Ronald Lee Kwok-leung, a 41-year-old construction worker who joined the network more than two years ago, particularly appreciated a camping experience that created an opportunity for a meaningful conversation with his 14-year-old son.
“For me, the most unforgettable memory with the organisation happened in 2023 when we got stuck in a tent due to the rain when camping,” Lee said.
“But thanks to that, I got to talk to my son for a long time and we spent a meaningful father-son moment together. My son talked to me and shared his thoughts with me more often after that.”
Lee also said that he believed fathers needed more accessible channels to learn practical skills such as maintenance, cooking and photography to enhance their role in the family.
Khan Arif, a 43-year-old construction worker living in Hong Kong for over a decade, also benefited from the DADs Network.
He said that group activities, such as bowling and climbing with his son, 10, daughter, eight, and other families, deepened his understanding of his children and the role of fathers.
“These activities helped me know more about my children – their likes and dislikes, and their strengths and weaknesses. It also helped me spend quality time with them,” Arif said.
He also admitted that he faced some challenges, particularly in understanding his children’s perspectives on technology use and finding a balance between work, study and playtime.
Arif said the community of fathers would greatly benefit from more sports activities to help them relieve stress, as well as additional parent-child events to create closer bonds.
The DADs Network’s strategy involves creating early bonding experiences, such as through a programme that invites fathers to attend activities with their children at school.
About 95 per cent of fathers committed to regular one-on-one time with their children after these events, with 80 per cent continuing six months later, according to the non-profit organisation.
Another strategy was building communities through “Dads Together” initiatives, providing a safe, co-learning space for fathers to share experiences.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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