In the midst of our busy work schedule after our marriage, my wife Peggy and I put in much effort to start a family. Eventually, to our great joy, my son Jia Jian came along. He was born premature, at seven-and-a-half months, with chronic lung problems. In those stressful five months immediately after his birth, … Read more
Dads For Life set out on a community assignment to invite contributions from the ordinary Man, Woman and Child on the streets of Singapore, to this question: “What is one thing you have always wanted to say to your Dad but never did?” The responses we received from a girl as young as 5, to … Read more
Introduction Historically, psychologists and other researchers assumed that the mother-child bond was the most important one in a child’s life. They focused on studying those relationships, and tended to attribute children’s outcomes – whether positive or negative – to mothers. However, within the last several decades, scientists are increasingly realizing how much dads matter. Just … Read more
Here are some recipes that we have put together for dads who want to expand into cooking Singapore food! All of them are relatively easy to make family favourites. Some are heirlooms passed down the generations, and some, heirlooms in the making. They are all delicious dishes, heritage recipes, embedded with a repository of precious … Read more
Separation- individuation is the process by which an infant acquires an identity that is distinct from the mother. Most child development theorists believe that children learn about themselves and construct their own identities within the context of their families. When children have positive experiences, they develop an understanding of themselves as significant and respected, and … Read more
Three men talk about what they appreciate most about being a dad, the people who support them, and the big f-word – their ‘feelings’ on their journey as fathers. Gratitude John Khoo is in his 30s; he and his wife Belinda have a 5-year old daughter, Constance. As John reflects on things he appreciates as … Read more
“Don’t run!” “No, you cannot have an iPhone!” “There’s no way you’re having a sleepover!” “No! You’re not going outside wearing that!” There’s nothing wrong with saying “no” to things. Sometimes, there is no way she’s going outside wearing that, and no, he doesn’t need an iPhone. On the other hand, permissive parenting always says … Read more
Rising rates of divorce and single parenthood have led to more children living apart from one of their parents – typically their fathers. While much research has focused on the negative impact of such arrangements, a growing body of evidence suggests that fathers who live apart from their children (non-resident fathers) can still make a … Read more
Social expectations of the father’s role in the family have changed considerably in the past three decades. Previously expected to be mainly an economic provider, the “new father” now is expected to also provide day-to-day physical and emotional care to children as an equal partner of the mother (Goldscheider & Waite, 1991) Despite these changing … Read more
Significant Milestone for Research on Fatherhood in Asia With rapid economic development, erosion of extended families and changing gender norms, the role of fathers in Asia is changing. Yet, compared to the burgeoning literature on father involvement in Western societies, there have been limited studies on the evolving roles of fathers in Asia. Explaining the … Read more