For many ethnic minority families in Hong Kong, integration comes with challenges including language barriers and cultural differences, hindering their access to public resources. Since the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) established the Children and Family Services Centre in Kowloon City in 2003, the Centre has remained steadfast in its mission to promote family harmony and racial inclusion. Approximately 30% of the 500 families supported by the Centre are from ethnic minority backgrounds, most having migrated to Hong Kong from South Asia.   Breaking Barriers: From Beginner to Excellence Bibi Umama, a 13-year-old student was unable to speak a word of Chinese when she migrated from Pakistan to Hong Kong with her family seven years ago. Homework was an arduous family task, with her father forced to take photos of each assignment to send to Chinese friends for translation and help. Completing daily homework was slow, frustrating, and exhausting. Five years ago, Umama's father sought support from the HKSPC Children and Family Services Centre following a friend's recommendation. Since then, all six family members have become active participants in the Centre's programmes and volunteer services.   Umama and her siblings participate in the "Whole Learning Project VI," funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Community Project Grant. Designed for local and ethnic minority students from low-income and CSSA families, the programme offers academic, social, and emotional support to children from Primary 1 to Primary 6. For Umama, the Saturday Educational Courses were a turning point. With structured lessons focused on reading, writing, and speaking, she began to build confidence in Chinese. Umama now speaks fluent Cantonese and has blossomed both academically and socially. She is a confident student who ranked first in Chinese in her Primary 6 graduation exams and placed among the top five students in her year. Additionally, she was offered a secondary school place at a Band 1 secondary school, which was a moment of pride for her family.   Invisible Burden on Ethnic Minority Mothers: Building Stronger Support Networks Almost one-third of those who use the Centre’s services come from ethnic minority backgrounds. For the past 13 years as the Centre’s Programme Officer, Seema Sharma, herself part of the minority community and fluent in Hindi, English, Punjabi and Urdu, has played a vital role in bridging the cultural and communication gap.   "She was so shy and anxious about her schoolwork," Seema recalls Umama's early days at the Centre. But as her Cantonese improved, so did her confidence. She began interacting more freely with local classmates and gradually blossomed into a cheerful young girl. Her siblings also found friends and learned better social and emotional skills with help from the Centre’s Social Workers.   Seema also highlights the quiet struggles faced by ethnic minority mothers, who often shoulder the full weight of childcare and housework. Umama's mother, for example, initially declined to join Centre activities due to her busy schedule. With Seema's encouragement, she attended a few workshops and found respite from her hectic routine. She soon became a familiar face at the Centre, sharing her culinary talents by leading cooking classes for other parents.   "It's heartening to see mothers rediscover their passions amid the chaos of daily life," Seema says. "Many tell me that the Centre gives them a safe space to share feelings they might not express to friends or family. Mothers reconnect with passions they left behind, discovering new purpose and emotional support in a community that welcomes them with open arms. That support makes a real difference."   As Umama prepares for the more demanding curriculum of secondary school, she remains positive and determined. Her message to fellow ethnic minority students at the HKSPC Children and Family Services Centre is simple yet powerful: "Don't give up. Follow your dreams."

  Many parents have experienced that curious moment when their energetic little ones suddenly drift off to sleep without signs. One second they're bouncing with excitement, and the next they're “switched off.” It's often a delightful surprise, leaving parents both entertained and wondering how to help their babies develop a more consistent sleep routine.   Importance of Baby Sleeping In the first three years of life, a newborn revolves around three essential activities: eating, playing, and sleeping. Among these, sleep occupies nearly half of their time. It is the most effective form of recharging and scientific research consistently shows that nothing matches the benefits during these formative years. Sleep plays a vital role in cellular recovery. During deep sleep, the body releases human growth hormone (HGH), a crucial hormone for muscle repair and protein synthesis. This natural process accelerates cell regeneration and helps restore damaged or senescent cells. Infants have a high basal metabolic rate, making quality sleep beneficial to their growth and development. Additionally, it strengthens their immune system, stabilises emotions, and improves cognitive functions such as focus and learning.   Everyday Sleeping Time How much sleep do children need? To answer that, we need to consider their age, behavioural patterns and emotional responses. As children grow, their sleep structure gradually matures. Around the age of one, babies begin to develop a basic concept of day and night, laying the foundation for a more consistent sleep routine.   According to the Guidelines published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2019*, toddlers aged 1-2 years need approximately 11-14 hours of sleep, which includes 10-12 hours of nighttime sleep and 1-2 naps during the daytime, each lasting 1-2 hours.   While time is an important indicator of children’s sleeping quality, parents should also pay attention to their behaviours during sleeping andupon waking. Frequent turning over, kicking off quilts, sudden awakenings, prolonged groggy, irritability, or concentrating difficulty may signal poor sleep quality. At these cases, parents should take notice and make timely adjustments to their child’s sleep habits.   As children develop their motor and cognitive skills, they may begin to delay or resist naps and sleep. How should parents respond?   Three-Step Bedtime Routine Regular and appropriate nap time Research indicates that children's afternoon naps should last for 2 hours and should ideally end by 3:30 p.m. to minimise any potential impact on nighttime sleep. In HKSPC day crèches, an afternoon nap is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for children aged one and older. We also recommend that parents maintain a consistent rest routine on both weekdays and weekends to help stabilise their children's biological clocks and promote healthy sleep patterns. Comfortable Sleeping Environement Day crèches provide a temperature-comfortable, dimly lit environment to help babies settle into sleep. We remove stimulating items such as toys from the crib and play gentle music, creating a soothing atmosphere that encourages peaceful rest. Regular Bedtime Rituals Teachers in day crèches create bedtime rituals for babies, helping them to develop regular sleeping habits. Bedtime rituals refer to a series of preparatory activities performed before sleep, which are typically brief and static. For example:   Singing or finger rhymes   Pat babies’ bodies   Switch off lights A consistent bedtime ritual is key to creating a calm sleep environment and gently guiding children toward rest. When parents or caregivers follow the same routine, babies begin to recognise the sequence and understand what comes next. Over time, this familiarity helps them wind down naturally, making it easier for them to feel sleepy and drift off into a peaceful slumber.   Every parent hopes to see their baby fall asleep with ease. With patience, consistency, and loving guidance, building healthy sleep habits from an early age becomes not only easier but also more enjoyable.   *WHO guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.   Lam Ka Man Centre Supervisor Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children SIA Shaukiwan Day Creche With over twenty years of experience in early childhood education services, Lam holds a Master of Arts in Parent Education from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Hong Kong Baptist University. She is also a certified instructor of the "6A Character Education™" program. Over the years, she has placed great emphasis on parent education, hoping to work hand in hand with parents to nurture children and to experience the beauty of growing together with them.

  Do you know what "320" represents? To promote oral care, the FDI World Dental Federation designates 20 March each year as "World Oral Health Day." This number is quite interesting; it represents the 20 baby teeth in children, the 32 permanent teeth in adults, and 0 tooth decay—symbolising that everyone, regardless of age, should aim for "zero tooth decay" to maintain oral health.   As babies grow up, they no longer need adults’ help to clean their teeth. When they turn one, parents can begin to teach children the importance of teeth protection and nurture their good dental habits. Many parents may face challenges when encouraging their children to brush their teeth. Let’s explore the following tips to create a relaxing brushing mood for young children!   Dental Care Tip 1: How to Clean Baby Teeth Effectively? Children will have 20 teeth by the age of 3, with incisors and molars growing around their first birthday. As children's fine motor skills develop steadily at this age, it is an ideal time for parents to encourage children to brush on their own. Parents may continue to assist children with brushing in the morning and evening when necessary. The steps for brushing are as follows:   Place the toothbrush at a slight angle against the gum line. Brush the outer surfaces of all teeth. Brush the inner surfaces of all teeth. Finally, brush the chewing surfaces of all molars. Done!   Parents have several ways to make brushing comfortable and fun, such as singing children’s songs while brushing to guide children to complete the task within the time. Besides, when assisting with brushing, parents should be gentle and cautious to avoid hurting children's gums, which could lead to their negative feelings towards brushing.   Dental Care Tip 2: Brush in the Morning and Before Bed Children sometimes find brushing “a fun game” instead of a task that has to be completed so they are not able to stay focused. Parents may consider brushing together to provide quality bonding time while allowing kids to imitate correct brushing gestures and habits. Remember to observe children's reactions and behaviours and offer them timely assistance and encouragement. Once children learn how to spit, they can start using fluoride toothpaste designed for kids.   Dental Care Tip 3: Choosing the Right Tools is Important Children may resist brushing if they are unfamiliar with the tools. Parents can make brushing a fun interactive experience by using storybooks to introduce the tools for brushing. Taking children shopping for toothbrushes allows them to feel the softness of different brushes and choose one they like. Parents can also let them try various toothpaste flavours to keep their interest in brushing.   Dental Care Tip 4: Cultivating Good Eating Habits Eating habits are closely related to dental care. The acids produced during meals are harmful to tooth surface, leading to mineral loss and, over time, tooth decay. Even drinking water is not able to neutralise the acids on the teeth. Therefore, reducing the frequency of meals is the effective approach. The principles are as follows:   Limit meals to no more than 6 times a day. Have three substantial meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) each day, with one snack time allowed between meals. Allow children to enjoy their favourite snacks and drinks during meals or snack time. Drink only plain water on a daily basis. Avoid using snacks as rewards. Reduce the intake of sweet food.   Furthermore, children should be guided to wean off bottle use completely by 18 months to reduce the risk of tooth decay (milk sugars cover baby teeth when the baby drinks and sleeps at the same time) or ear infections (milk may flow into the ear canal along the eustachian tube while lying down). After turning one, children can be taught to use a cup to drink water or other beverages.   "Baby Teeth Health Promotion” Programme in HKSPC Day Crèches Our day crèches implement the "Baby Teeth Health Promotion" programme annually, partnering with parents to raise awareness on the importance of dental care for young children. We support parents through various activities, including parent seminars, promoting dental care months, sharing oral care booklets, and accessible online resources.   Rome wasn't built in a day, and so as cultivating good dental habits in children. Parents need to accompany and guide children with patience, making dental care a part of their daily routines.   Yuen Hau Ying Centre Supervisor Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children William Grimsdale Day Creche With over 20 years in early childhood education and a Master’s degree from The Education University of Hong Kong, Yuen specializes in the development of children aged 0–6. Yuen advocates for learning through daily life and nurturing independence, while fostering warm, respectful relationships between children, parents, and educators and creating a joyful atmosphere in the day creche.

  Nowadays, effective parent-child communication is crucial to the physical and mental development of children. This article aims to help parents understand how to communicate more effectively with their children through various psychological theories, tools, and methods. Good communication not only fosters children's emotional development but also helps them to build healthy relationships and values.   The Impact of Communication Styles Many parents adopt authoritarian or permissive communication styles, which can negatively affect their children's mental health. Authoritarian communication may make children feel oppressed and develop rebellious attitudes, while permissive communication can result in a lack of boundaries, obstructing children from learning healthy patterns of love and being loved. These poor communication styles not only harm children's self-esteem but also bring a negative impact to their social skills, making interactions with others difficult.   According to psychological research, effective parent-child communication should include respect and understanding. When parents communicate with their children, they should focus more on the feelings and needs of their kids rather than solely imposing their own ideas. This approach helps children to build confidence and promote their emotional and intellectual development.   Age and Cognitive Development Children of different ages show significant differences in cognitive and emotional development. Many parents often use a preaching style when communicating with their children, attempting to persuade them through logic. However, psychological research indicates that a child's prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until around the age of five or six, which makes it difficult for them to understand abstract concepts and reasoning. As a result, even if parents explain their rationales, children may not fully understand and fulfill related tasks.   Parents often believe that their children are disrespectful or disobedient in this situation but that is not the truth. In fact, children simply cannot understand what adults are trying to deliver. Parents should be alert to that instead of emphasizing verbal explanations. It is more effective to guide their children through examples. Demonstrating appropriate behaviors and values through actions is often more impactful than mere verbal instructions.   Technology and Patience Technological advancement speeds up communications between people but weakens our patience to communication. When communicating with children, parents often expect immediate results but become increasingly impatient to the responses children are giving. When children are comparatively slow in following instructions, parents may rush and criticize them, which makes children anxious and may even lead to their procrastination.   Erikson's research indicates that after the age of six, the development of self-esteem and a sense of competence is crucial for children's psychological growth. If parents disregard their children's emotions and thoughts during communication, children may feel disrespected and such negative experiences may intensify their rebellion toward parents and make them self-centred.   Ways to Foster Positive Parent-Child Relationships To make parent-child communications more effective, parents may follow these tips: Active Listening: Give children enough time and space to express their thoughts and feelings. This not only makes children feel valued but also enhances their expressive abilities. Use Simple and Clear Language: Based on children’s age and ability to understand, parents should use simple terms and sentences to convey ideas instead of complex reasoning and abstract concepts. Practice what you Preach: Family members' behaviors have a profound impact on children. By demonstrating correct behaviors and values, parents can guide their children more effectively. Be Patient: Provide sufficient patience and support in children's learning and growth processes, allowing them to learn from mistakes rather than rushing and criticizing. Emotional Support: Pay attention to children’s emotional needs when communicating with them to give them feelings safe and loved, which is essential for building a strong parent-child relationship.   In summary, effective parent-child communication is crucial for children's physical and mental development. By understanding children's developmental needs and adopting suitable communication methods, parents can foster children’s healthy growth and help them establish positive values and relationships.   Dr. Ringle Leung Director of HealthyMind Parents Academy Ringle is a positive parenting education specialist and a guest lecturer at Caritas Institute of Higher Education, holding a Master’s degree in Family Education and a Doctorate in Education. Over the years, Ringle has provided positive education courses and activities to more than 2,000 schools and organizations, reaching over 40,000 families. He has also appeared on various media platforms to deliver parenting talks to the public.

  In today's education landscape, children are not limited to textbook learning—their holistic development is gaining growing importance. We hope parents can enjoy learning in nature together with their kids in daily life, thereby promoting their well-being comprehensively. Nature offers a diverse learning platform, and also serves as an excellent space for enhancing children's emotional resonance and social interaction. We encourage parents to approach this from the perspective of strengthening their child’s social emotional learning, exploring nature together while learning how to observe, interact with, and appreciate the environment. Whether it is playing in a park or exploring the countryside, these activities provide children with opportunities to build self-awareness, self-management and social skills, while also deepening the bonding between parents and children. Let’s take a look at how we can integrate the five core competencies of social emotional learning into nature education.   Self-awareness The natural environment offers a dynamic and enriching setting where parents and children can learn self-perception through the changes in the environment. As children wander through nature and observe the changing seasons, their inner world will be connected and they will become aware of their own emotional responses to these natural shifts. Parents can further guide children to listen to their own heartbeat and breath through simple breathing exercises, so that children can be more aware of their physical state. These are valuable practices in developing self-awareness.   Self-management Children need to learn how to manage their behaviours to adapt to different environments and situations when exploring the nature. For example, during hands-on harvesting activities, children have to control their excitement, listen to others' instructions or opinions, and collaborate to complete tasks. This is not only an opportunity to learn from nature, but also a practical exercise in regulating emotions and behaviors within a team setting.   Social Awareness Activities in nature often require teamwork, providing children with opportunities to observe and understand the emotions and behaviors of others. Take hiking as an example, when children notice their peers showing signs of exhaustion, they have the opportunity to learn how to offer encouragement and support. These experiences help children develop empathy and respect for others' feelings in natural interactions, thereby strengthening their social awareness.   Relationship Skills Participating in group tasks within natural environments, like planting or garden maintenance, serves as a meaningful way to nurture children’s interpersonal abilities and foster teamwork. Through these experiences, children learn how to communicate effectively, resolve minor conflicts, and share in the joy of accomplishments. These interactions help children develop the ability to build and maintain positive relationships.   Responsible Decision Making Parents and children make various decisions together during nature exploration, such as which plants to grow at home or which routes to take on a hike. These decision-making processes strengthen parent-child collaboration, at the same time provide real-life opportunities for children to learn how to take the consequences of their choices into consideration, and how to weigh pros and cons when making a decision.   Learning and playing in natural environments enhances children's physical and mental well-being, also leaving behind unforgettable memories and cherished milestones while they are growing up. This serves as a solid foundation for their future relationships and career growth. By reconnecting with nature, we can explore and embrace more meaningful ways of learning—nurturing a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.   Boris Ma Service Director (Social Services) of HKSPC   Boris is a registered social worker, and a holder of the Master degree in Social Work (Mental Health) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is dedicated to developing people-oriented social services, mobilising community resources, and enhancing family functioning.

  在「多啦A夢」大電影中，大雄和他的朋友時常到不同國度或科幻場景冒險，小朋友亦可以想像自己跟隨主角們，盡情地在異世界中無拘無束地玩耍。但是現實生活中，小朋友日常玩樂時接觸的環境、設施和配套，又能否讓他們無憂又安全地耍樂呢？近來，大家都鼓勵小朋友多接觸大自然，我們在郊外玩樂時又有什麼需要注意呢？   符合小朋友的年紀和能力 小朋友在不同年齡段的成長，對環境的探索和接受挑戰的程度也有不同，在選擇戶外活動時，我們要選擇符合小朋友年齡和體能的活動，例如帶年紀較小的小朋友遠足，應選擇一家大小都能應付的簡單家樂徑或行山步道，不要挑選難度高、需要進階裝備去攀登的遠足路徑。   如預視到當天戶外活動需要大量體力消耗，家長應安排孩子前一晚早點休息，確保小朋友有足夠體力應付。在郊外活動或遠足期間，家長亦應時刻留意小朋友的生理需要，提供足夠時間讓小朋友休息和喝水，以免中暑。   留意天氣和環境安全 我們要在出發前留意天文台的最新天氣消息，如果預知天氣將會變壞，應考慮改變行程或取消戶外活動。此外，出門時，家長可讓小朋友穿著合適的衣服及運動鞋，同時建議帶備太陽帽及雨具，以預防炎熱或下雨等天氣變化情況。此外，家長應該告知親人郊遊地點或可安裝具有記錄行蹤功能的智能電話應用程式，萬一發生意外，搜救隊伍可參考多個途徑的行蹤資料找尋求助者。   帶備合適和足夠物資 除了足夠的食物、飲用水、防曬和防蚊用品外，建議家長隨身帶備一些簡單藥物和救傷用品 ，例如藥水膠布、紗布繃帶、敷料、消毒藥水等，當遇上跌倒、小擦傷等小意外發生時，也可以即時簡單處理傷口。同時，家長應確保電話有充足電源，必要時也應帶備後備電源，方便有需要時可以與外界聯絡。     戶外活動的樂趣很多，家長可於出發前與小朋友一同計劃行程，並趁機與小朋友一起了解不同地點的動植物生態、名稱和特性。在這個過程中，小朋友不但可以增加對大自然的認識，也可以從中學習活動計劃的技能，寓學習於活動中。親親大自然有益身心，希望家長和小朋友一起玩得開心之餘又安全，建立更親密的親子關係。   守護兒童顧問 劉燕玲

  “Wishing you happiness!” is a blessing we often hear. But what exactly is happiness?   As citizens living in Hong Kong, is our “Happiness Index” ideal? Can Hong Kong truly be called a “happy city”? Happiness should not belong exclusively to a certain age group, social class, or type of person. The opportunities and conditions for happiness should belong to everyone.   For a long time, Hong Kong—like many other countries and cities—has used GDP as the key indicator of social development and success, taking pride in its economic focus, competitiveness, and efficiency. Over time, this has become part of our culture. In a bustling city, the pace of life can feel suffocating. When we are too busy, powerless, or unwilling to care about our own feelings, it becomes all too easy to ignore the feelings of family, loved ones, neighbors, those we serve, and those who serve us—especially the young and vulnerable, the elderly, and people with special needs. Their cries often go unheard. Thus, while prosperity grows, so do heavy pressures and serious hidden dangers.   Media reports and cases handled by social welfare agencies and police show rising numbers of tragedies involving abuse, neglect, bullying, discrimination, and even suicides among children and youth—leaving deep physical and psychological scars. The suffering of children, the elderly, the vulnerable, and those with special needs is plain to see. “Happiness” feels far out of reach for them. Globally, mental health is now recognized as a critical issue, with depression and mental illness posing a major threat to sustainable development. This is not just Hong Kong’s challenge—it is an international crisis. In recent years, advocates have begun calling for the creation of a “culture of happiness”—a movement that deserves strong support. But how do we build such a culture? What are the indicators? And whose responsibility is it?   In July 2011, the United Nations passed a resolution urging member states to guide public policy toward measuring national happiness. On April 1, 2012, the first World Happiness Report was published—the world’s first international survey based on happiness. It explored the causes of happiness and suffering, and the impact of national policies. The seventh report was released in March 2024, with Finland ranked as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year—a case worth studying. Based on research by experienced scholars in economics, psychology, and national statistics, six key indicators for assessing happiness were established: GDP per capita Healthy life expectancy Charity & generosity Freedom of choice Freedom from corruption Social support   These indicators clearly show that building a culture of happiness requires forward-looking, fair, and progressive social policies; timely laws and systems; clear benchmarks; action plans; and sustained, effective citywide efforts. It demands genuine participation, knowledge, skills, and values—and a sense of personal responsibility. To achieve this, strong leadership from policymakers is crucial. But protecting our families, caring for those around us, and safeguarding the weak and innocent is everyone’s responsibility. Respecting human rights and family matters is vital, but when violence or bullying crosses society’s bottom line, we cannot turn a blind eye or remain bystanders. We must act—support, help, and refer cases to professionals when appropriate. Timely assessment and intervention can change the future for someone in crisis. Let us hold children’s hands, protect their innocence, and ensure they live in an environment that safeguards their best interests—safe from violence, and nurturing to body, mind, and spirit. Together, let’s build a culture of happiness!   Mrs. LUI TSANG Sun-kaiMrs. LUI TSANG is an active child rights advocate in Hong Kong, she is also:The former Chief Executive of Against Child AbuseThe former Chairperson of Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights, andThe former member of Commission on Children

大家是否有聽過父母說：「你將來做左人哋父母你就知道味道！」，或者朋友說：「我而家先知道阿爸阿媽點解成日咁勞氣！唉！」   事實上，現時當家長或照顧者的，都面對著無限的挑戰。每天照顧小朋友如臨大敵：趕著上學，趕著補習，趕著做功課，趕著參加興趣班等等，所有的安排都是要為孩子成就更好的未來。若孩子能給予正面的回應，家長當然感到欣喜，覺得所有付出都是值得的；相反，當孩子在多番教育之下成績仍然沒有起色，家長會感到無奈和氣餒。家長每每投放全副心機來照顧孩子，但他們身為照顧者的需要，又有誰來關顧？   根據香港婦女中心協會於2023年10月發佈的「照顧者身體勞損及精神狀態調查」結果，顯示受訪者中有56.7%為全職照顧者，25.7%從事兼職工作並於工餘時間照顧被照顧者。有64.1%的照顧者一天內的照顧工作時間最少8小時，當中甚至有45.8%照顧者一天內的照顧工作時間為12小時以上。照顧者主要工作內容為家居清潔(78.1%)、買菜(77.2%)、做飯(72.8%)、交費(64%)、洗熨衣物(55.1%)及學童接送(50.6%)。   在社交方面，有多達90.2%的照顧者表示，他們因照顧工作少了閒暇生活。81.5%的照顧者表示因照顧工作而少了時間和朋友接觸，只有10%照顧者表示認識多了朋友，擴大了社交圈子，亦有8.5%照顧者表示完全沒有影響。由於照顧工作佔用了照顧者一天當中很大部分的時間，使他們不得不放棄很多放鬆自己的機會。   在心理健康情況方面，有96.6%照顧者因照顧而感到壓力，當中有53.8%表示很大壓力。另外，照顧者被問及會否因為照顧而感到滿足，近半數(46.6%)的照顧者表示普通，20.8%表示完全沒有滿足感，只有26.2%覺得有滿足感、6.4%照顧者感到很有滿足感。由此可見，照顧工作為照顧者帶來的壓力比滿足感要多。   從調查結果可了解到照顧者的心理健康和社交需要往往被忽略。照顧者往往為了孩子，願意無止境地一直付出，但他們若能同時善待自己，相信對家庭的照顧及兒童成長會更有幫助。以下有三點能讓照顧者參考：   增值自己 與時並進 當大家成為照顧者後，大部份的時間都會留給家中的另一半或孩子，而在照顧上的知識或技巧卻不似預期，因此，成為照顧者後，也要好好增值自己，學海無涯，學習生活的細節，如孩子成長的身心需要、溝通技巧、特殊學習需要兒童的特質與照顧方法、甚至日常烹調技巧等等，照顧者除了能與時並進，更可以把學習到的運用在生活當中。   懂得放鬆 照顧者往往對孩子充滿著期望與要求，讓自己的壓力也會相應增加。久而久之，壓力會引致不同程度的負面情緒，而令家庭成員之間的關係變得緊張，甚至會鬧得不愉快，最終對孩子的成長造成負面的影響。如果家長能夠每天抽空進行放鬆活動，例如聆聽柔和的音樂、學習靜觀呼吸法、做運動等等，將有助調節自己的心情，放慢腳步，從而活在當下。漸漸地，你會發現自己與家人相處會變得輕鬆，少了很多執著，生活中各方面都會變得更順利。   保持社交生活 我曾經有聽過家長分享，她在結婚生子後，有多年沒有與朋友見面，生活都只是圍繞著丈夫與孩子，每天總是重重複複，生活變得單一乏味，令她的情緒也變差。這位媽媽後來在參加了家長群組後，獲身邊的同伴鼓勵跳出框框，主動聯絡昔日的朋友聚會，丈夫不但非常支持，夫妻也因此各自擁有了自己的時間和空間。最後，因為媽媽重拾了與朋友社交的機會，同時與丈夫建立了更舒適的關係，讓家庭生活也變得更幸福美滿，與孩子之間的相處也改善了不少。   當照顧者在經歷角色轉變時，容易變得迷失。而朋友和社交便是一個很好的途徑，讓照顧者得到情緒上和知識上的支援和建議，從而讓他們有機會解決很多難題和釋放壓力。   在照顧好孩子之前，我們也要好好為照顧者和家長的健康把關，因為只有家人健康快樂，孩子才會在一個無憂無慮的環境成長，從而收穫一個快樂童年。   參考資料： 香港婦女中心協會，2023，照顧照顧者平台｜「照顧者身體勞損及精神健康問卷調查」發佈， https://womencentre.org.hk/Zh/Newsroom/Pressrelease/cfc_carerhealth_2023/   守護兒童顧問 劉燕玲

每年的11月20日，是一個對兒童別具意義的日子——世界兒童日。這個節日由聯合國於1954年設立，旨在增進全世界兒童的凝聚力，提高兒童意識，改善兒童福利。1959年和1989年的這天，聯合國先後通過了《兒童權利宣言》和《兒童權利公約》，呼籲各國政府履行承諾，致力於實現兒童應有的權利。   所謂愛護、保護兒童，要為兒童提供甚麼才足夠？本港是一個經濟掛帥的社會，每件事情都講求效益，包括兒童的發展。除了安排上課學習外，還會在課餘為孩子報讀不同的補習班，務求加強孩子的競爭力，增加入讀優秀學校以至大學的機會；另一方面，也會為孩子物色形形式式的興趣班或訓練班，希望對孩子的發展會有所幫助。孩子的成長過程，一直充滿著學習與競爭，難道這就是愛護兒童、保護兒童？   其實，強迫孩子不斷學習，只會讓孩子對學習產生厭倦。家長們，不妨在這個每年一度的節日，好好思考愛護、保護兒童的意義。以下提供幾個貼士，幫助家長在教養孩子時，在保護與學習之間取得平衡。   了解孩子的興趣 作為家長，若要為孩子安排和挑選學習班或興趣班，應先了解和發掘孩子的興趣，這樣不但能讓孩子的學習事半功倍，更能彰顯《兒童權利公約》中所提倡的「發展權」，讓兒童能接受正規教育之餘，也能享受參與遊戲、文化活動的自由。   讓孩子一起討論課外學習 家長為孩子選擇課程時，是按照自己的期望，還是孩子的意願呢？若家長為孩子計劃課外學習時，能與孩子一起商量，揀選最合適的學習課程，孩子的學習態度和認真程度也會提高。家長讓孩子表達他們的想法，尊重和聆聽孩子的聲音，對他們的意見作出合適的回應，這樣也體現了《兒童權利公約》中「參與權」的精神。   讓「家」成為孩子的避風港 孩子在成長與學習的過程常會面對不同的挑戰，但有時候家長過分緊張，或溝通方法不當，或會令孩子感到難以坦誠相對，若果在補習班或興趣班中遇上心術不正的成年人，更有可能讓他們乘虛而入，對孩子作出傷害的行為。為了防止這些事情的發生，家長應好好了解自己的孩子，與孩子建立良好和互信的關係，讓「家」成為孩子隨時隨地的避風港。這樣，當孩子遇到困難和問題，第一時間便會想到向自己家中的父母尋求幫助，讓孩子明白家長是支持自己的最強後盾。   無論世界如何變遷，每天也可以是兒童日。只要家長凡事以兒童為先，尊重兒童、考慮兒童的需要，孩子便能每一天都活得快樂和有意義。   守護兒童顧問 劉燕玲