17 July 2011 - A skit titled Old Dad, New Dad has been making its mark among men at workplaces and organisations across the island.

Sponsored by Dads for Life (DFL), the skit is part of its Dads@Workplaces initiative which equips men with skills and knowledge about fathering. This is done through programmes brought in to places where they spend the bulk of the day – at work.

An entertaining and thought-provoking skit, Old Dad, New Dad, is performed by The Voice, a community threatre group whose ability to engage an audience despite the barest of environments, is laudable.

In a Conference room at the Nanyang Technological University Alumni Club, four actors with just a room divider and two chairs as props, brought to life the typical Singaporean family. Mr Chong is exhilarated with the arrival of his first child, Jessica. However in the years that follow, work demands pre-occupy him. And, Jessica grows up rarely seeing him.

Such is the modus operandi of the family until a crisis takes place in Jessica’s teenage years. This forces her dad to confront the question, “How well do I really know my daughter?”

When Jessica performs poorly at school, crisis and clashes follow. Mr Chong has to find the determination and opportunity to become more involved in Jessica’s life. In the process, he is transformed into a “New Dad.”

Mr Chong "spending time" with his daughter.	Fixing the strained relationship takes time and earnest effort.

After the actors took their bow and left the stage, a Parenting Trainer facilitated a discussion about how father-involvement positively impacts children’s performance socially and academically.

In hectic Singapore, many among the audience could identify with the characters in the skit. Mr Salleh Omar Ismail, 44, a technician, said that a scene of Jessica struggling to communicate with her father reminded him of the need to be patient and give his son time to express his thoughts. “It is important to listen carefully and not jump to conclusions,” said Mr Salleh.

Mr Salleh watched the skit with his wife, Mdm Ramlah Binte Mohamed Ghouse, a homemaker. Meanwhile, their daughter, Shafinaz, 16, and son, Sharizwan, 10, enjoyed a storytelling cum speech-and-drama session in the Club’s ballroom.

Salleh Omar Ismail and his family during game time.	Ms Nicole Wee (top right), Assistant Director, U Family and her team at the registration desk.

Both programmes were part of Family Night Out with Drama Plays, an event organised by U Family to encourage families to set aside at least one Friday night each month for time together. 100 attended the event.

Ms Nicole Wee, Assistant Director, U Family, said that such events spur fathers to spend time with their children. The skit Old Dad, New Dad can “remind fathers of their importance in a family and the positive role they play in the lives of their children.”

Ms Wee said, “Parenting is a shared responsibility and the role of a father is for life. As much as fathers are working hard to provide for the family, we hope that through this skit, they are reminded of the importance of spending enough quality time with their family, and are able to step up to the rewarding challenge of being a modern dad.”

Information on Old Dad, New Dad, Dads@Workplaces, and Family Night Out

Email Dads for Life This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out how to bring the skit, Old Dad, New Dad and Dads@Workplaces to your company or organisation.

Family Night Out by is open to U Family members and non-members. To find out more, visit the U Family Website

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About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.