Ease pressure on Hong Kong children and your marriage, says government advisory body ahead of package launch

Parents do not always have a clear idea how best to raise their children, which often results in them exerting too much pressure, according to a member of a government advisory body ahead of the launch of a new package aimed at reducing stress on families.

Shirley Marie Therese Loo, convenor of the Family Council's subcommittee on the promotion of family core values and family education, gave the example of a parent refusing to let her child help another with their homework in case they got better grades, then wondering why her own child struggled to make friends.

The Home Affairs Bureau's family education package, which will include a diary for parents of newborns, will be rolled out at all hospitals across the city in June. It seeks to encourage parents to reduce the pressure they put on their children.

Loo said raising children should be joyful and relaxing but some parents gave so much attention to their children, they risked putting a strain on their marriage. They should also take some time for their partner and go out for a walk to relax and talk about the problems they are facing, she said, adding: "A good marriage is the key to the family education of the children."

Loo also discouraged the use of money and expensive gifts as a reward for good grades. Education was a life journey, she said and parents should be patient.

She recommended limiting activities to allow children space and time to develop their own interests.