Nation-wide “Dads for Life” movement to mobilise and inspire fathers to play more active role in their children’s lives

1. 97% of Singaporeans are of the view that fathers play an important role in their children’s lives, according to a recently concluded fatherhood perception survey commissioned by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. 96% of the fathers surveyed wish that they could spend more time with their children in their growing years. The survey covered more than 2,000 respondents from a cross section of the population.
2. In a move to mobilise, support and inspire fathers to play a more active role in their children’s lives, the National Family Council will launch a nation-wide movement, “Dads for Life”. The movement aims to help fulfill today’s fathers’ aspirations for active fatherhood, as well as to support them in the challenging but rewarding role of co-parenting. The movement will be driven by a newly formed Fathers Action Network (FAN), a people-sector led consultative network comprising members from different sectors of society.
3. Mr Richard Seow, Chairman of FAN noted that fathers today go beyond being the breadwinner and disciplinarian. “Modern day demands require fathers to play a more active role in their children’s lives than before. The survey findings highlight scope for the Fathers Action Network to do more in bridging the gap between the perception of the positive role of fathers and their actual involvement as parents”, he added.
4. Findings from the survey show that there is agreement that fathers have a strong influence in shaping their children’s values (82%), as well as affecting general behaviour (80%) and psychological health (77%). 96% of the fathers surveyed also feel very committed to their role as a father, and 95% of them say that being a father and raising children is one of the most fulfilling experiences a man can have.
5. However, fathers still spend less time with their children than mothers. On average, during the weekend, a father typically spends about 8.4 hours a day with his children as compared to 10.5 hours spent by a mother. When asked about the roles and responsibilities of a father, 46% of respondents still point to being the breadwinner as a man’s key role in the family.
6. The fathers surveyed also raised expected parenting challenges such as work responsibilities, financial pressures and the lack of parenting resources. “This indicates the benefits of a total supportive environment, starting with the family, to facilitate fathers’, and mothers’, active participation in parenting and family life,” said Mr Seow. “There are also many organisations that are already engaging and supporting fathers. Rather than replicate their good work, the network through its multi-stakeholder representation hopes to help fathers identify and leverage these resources as they assume increasingly diverse roles in co-parenting and modern family life.”
7. Strong international research evidence also indicates that children with fathers who are actively involved in their lives from the start are likely to have stronger cognitive abilities, develop healthier relationships with others and perform better in school. Active fathers are also more likely to enjoy better marital relations with their spouses. Stronger marital relationships are found to offer greater support for fathers’ involvement.
8. Mr Lim Soon Hock, Chairman of the National Family Council said: “It is increasingly clear that co-parenting is essential for a child’s optimal growth and development, with fathers and mothers playing distinct but complementary roles. Being an active father can be challenging, but it is also a very fulfilling experience. In promoting greater co-parenting, we are here to encourage and support not just fathers, but also mothers, to help make the entire parenting experience an enriching one for the Singaporean family.”
9. A series of programmes and activities will be organised as part of the “Dads for Life” movement to inspire and reinforce the involvement of fathers in their children’s lives. This includes an island-wide distribution of “Dads for Life” toolkits by volunteers, including children, to fathers at more than 30 different locations, in conjunction with International Men’s Day on 19 November 2009. The public is also invited to share personal stories on fatherhood by submitting their stories to the Dads for Life Secretariat at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Fathers Action Network intends to publish these stories online as a resource bank to inspire and support parents.