Wind, born and raised in Hong Kong, moved to Japan eight years ago after marrying Mr. Hirose. The couple settled overseas, raising their seven-year-old son, Shinichi and five-year-old daughter, Hana. In early 2023, the Hirose family decided to relocate to Hong Kong, with Wind and the children returning first to live with their grandmother. Despite Mr. Hirose’s work commitments in Japan requiring frequent travel between the two places, the geographical distance has not lessened their close bond. On the contrary, it has deepened their appreciation for the invaluable moments they share as a family.
Parental Companionship: The Heartbeat of a Child’s Happiness
For Shinichi, the day they arrived in Hong Kong was the most unforgettable day as it marked the fulfilment of his long-cherished birthday wish. “The best memory was flying to Hong Kong with Mom and Dad. I've been here a few times before, but this was my first birthday on a plane! We had burgers and took lots of photos at the airport.” A year later, Shinichi and Hana have slowly adjusted to the life in Hong Kong. What excites them most is not just the delicious local cuisine and vibrant lifestyle, but the joy of creating happy memories with their family. “I love living in Hong Kong because we get to play in school and after school. We celebrated New Year, Easter, Halloween and Christmas here. We even watched the bun scrambling competition in Cheung Chau and the fire dragon dance.” Hana’s face lit up with joy as she eagerly recounted the animals she had seen with her parents at Ocean Park. When asked what they wanted to do the most with their dad upon his return, the siblings both enthusiastically expressed their common desire to “build Lego” and join in family activities, with their eyes brimming with anticipation.
“Happy Transition to Primary One”: Helping Kids Adapt to Primary School Life
Upon returning to the fast-paced life in Hong Kong, Wind candidly shared her worries and concerns, whether it's balancing family and work or helping her children adjust to school life, both she and her children are still adapting. She hopes to slow down and take life step by step as they embark on this new journey together. To help her children integrate into the community and school life, especially to assist her son in adapting to the new environment of first grade, Wind and her son participated in the “Happy Transition to Primary One—Parent-Child Nurturing Project” organised by the Kornhill Children Centre during the summer before he started primary school. The Project offers a range of activities designed to prepare her son for the new school setting by focusing on areas such as school life adaptation, emotional and behavioural management, social development, and sensory learning, while providing parents with valuable parenting knowledge to ensure they are mentally prepared. The Project, designed by BGCA’s 23 Children Centres and Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres, invites parents to accompany their children in adjusting to the primary school environment through shared activities, experiences, and learning, thereby enhancing parent-child communication and interaction. Shinichi mentioned, “We pretended to be in a real class. We learnt to sit still and answer teacher’s questions. We also played a lot of games together.” Wind found the Project invaluable in helping her son gain a clearer understanding of school life in Hong Kong, such as learning about the class schedule and recess time.
After transitioning to first grade, Shinichi gradually got used to the school life in Hong Kong and even began to look forward to attending classes. “I kind of enjoy school here because I get to play during recess, but my school bag is a bit heavy. I have to climb lots of stairs, attend a lot of classes and do a lot of homework. Back in Japan, I could sit with my classmates, but here, I have to sit alone.” Wind said, “At first, I was really worried that my kids might struggle to keep up with school in Hong Kong because they couldn’t write Chinese characters. So, I sought out as many resources as I could for them. Thankfully, after a few months, they adapted into school life, learned Chinese and made friends, which eased my worries.” Reflecting on the first two days of school when her son was so anxious that he had a stomach ache and needed to be picked up early, Wind expressed how proud she was of his progress. He now openly shares stories from school and little details about his interactions with friend.
The Key to Joyful Parenting Begins with “Self-Care”
Faced with the demands of her children's needs and the challenges of adapting to a new life, Wind admitted that she too felt exhausted at times. “I don’t have much time or space to release my emotions on a daily basis, so I usually let them unleash their emotions first before dealing with my own. But now, I feel better when I can talk to a social worker. I can take a moment to relax while the kids are playing at the Children Centre.” Wind pointed out that her children struggled with the limited space for activities in Hong Kong, so she makes a point to organise engaging activities for them and joins in whenever possible. “I really cherish being part of their school life and watching them grow. Besides taking part in the centre’s family activities, I also attend the parent-child events at their schools or volunteer as a parent, and I make sure not to miss any.”
Quality Parent-Child Interaction: The Essential Formular for a Happy Childhood
Wind hopes that her children will grow to love Hong Kong. To help them adapt to the new environment and integrate into the community, she frequently takes them to BGCA’s Kornhill Children Centre. “As a child, I loved playing at the Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres run by BGCA. So now I take my kids there every week for the parent-child activities and interest classes. They look forward to it every time.” On the interview day, Wind and her children were participating in the event, “Taikoo Trek – Kornhill Family Orienteering”, where they set out from the Kornhill Children Centre to complete various parent-child challenges at different destinations. After the event, her daughter happily exclaimed, “Mom tried so hard running with us today. It was so much fun! I also love the photos that we took together.” Wind was equally full of praise for her children, saying, “I admire my daughter for not crying when she fell. She courageously got up on her own. Such a brilliant kid! And I am proud of my son for running so fast and pressing the elevator button to hold the doors for others.”
In the face of life’s challenges, Wind chooses to tackle them optimistically with her children. She believes that quality interactions and time spent together are the essential ingredients for raising happy children. Every small moment of joy shared as a family weaves together the most beautiful symphony of happiness, and the happiness that children bring to their parents as they grow is such an invaluable gift.
Family Nurturing and Support Services: Fostering Quality Parent-Child Interactions
Recognising the crucial role of family life in the upbringing of children and youth, BGCA is committed to reinforcing family connections through our “Family Nurturing and Support” network. This initiative aims to empower families to better support their children through life's transitions. To promote quality parent-child interactions, our “Family Nurturing and Support” network and “Sports and Health” network collaborated to host the event “Walk with You; Grow with You: Hong Kong Parent-Child Orienteering Day”. This event, held across various Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSC) and Children Centres (CC), invited families of different backgrounds, including ethnic minorities and newcomers to Hong Kong, to explore multiple landmarks and undertake challenges together, fostering closer relationships and mutual appreciation among family members.
