Parent-Child Party on the Green in the Bustling City
By Mr. Wong Chiu Man, Director at Wan Chai Integrated Family Service Centre, St. James' Settlement
In the busy urban life, parents work tirelessly under high pressure to provide a stable life for their children, bearing the heavy responsibility of supporting the family. After work, another job begins—parenting: checking homework, accompanying study, handling school affairs, listening to concerns, offering advice, and easing emotions. Despite being a duty, it can be exhausting and requires a break.
Students in Hong Kong face heavy study loads from morning to night, with endless homework and exams, and busy weekends filled with various interest and tutoring classes. This relentless pursuit often buries many students' unique talents. It's time to give children a moment of rest, allowing the whole family to enjoy some leisure time together.
With technological advancements, some parents use smartphone apps to communicate with their children, hoping to increase parent-child topics. However, parents and children often bury themselves in their phones, reducing face-to-face communication. A survey found that 72% of parents admitted to conflicts with their children over the use of electronic devices. When parents fail to set a good example and blame their children for addiction, it only breeds resentment and harms relationships. It's time to pause, put down the phones, and enjoy face-to-face family fun.
Have you seen families wearing matching outfits? Family outfits can create a strong family image, serving as a symbol of the family and conveying a warm, friendly atmosphere, making the family stand out. For children, seeing their parents wearing the same clothes fosters a sense of unity and connection, making them feel safe and more willing to communicate with their parents.
Many children naturally cling to their mothers, making fathers feel like outsiders. Studies show that children guided by their fathers tend to be smarter, with higher IQs and stronger abilities. Matching outfits can help fathers and children bond, allowing children to gain strength from their fathers.
Finding a green space in the concrete jungle to enjoy rare tranquility and cleanse the mind is not easy. Why is looking at green plants beneficial for the eyes and mind? Green plants can absorb harmful UV rays from strong light, reduce glare, and reflect moderate light, providing a good stimulus to the nervous system, cerebral cortex, and retina, bringing a sense of coolness and calm. After intense study and work, looking at distant trees or green plants can relieve eye fatigue, making one feel relaxed and comfortable.
This year, our center continues with the theme "Family Creativity: Dare to Be Different," inviting parents and children to relax their tense bodies, ease their nerves, seek new ideas, and make space in their crowded minds, reconnecting family relationships. We are planning a party on the green, where families can wear matching outfits and enjoy a day of fun together.
