SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1984
MANY PARENTS COULD NOT AFFORD TO PROVIDE SPACIOUS SURROUNDINGS, AND THIS HAD AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
WHEN SPACE WAS SHORT AND PLAY FACILITIES SCARCE, LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS PARENTS MIGHT TAKE AN OVER-PROTECTIVE ATTITUDE, REFUSING TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO LEAVE HOME ALONE EXCEPT TO GO TO SCHOOL.
FEAR OF TRAFFIC OR UNDESIRABLE ASSOCIATIONS MIGHT LEAD PARENTS TO REFUSE PERMISSION FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
THIS COULD LEAD TO THE CHILDREN BECOMING INWARD-LOOKING, WITHDRAWN, AND LACKING INITIATIVE. THIS ALSO EXPLAINS WHY COMPUTER GAMES ARE MORE POPULAR IN HONG KONG THAN IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
MRS CHAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT ON THE FOUR HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATES NOW ON SALE COULD HELP PARENTS WHO WISHED TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN GROW UP AS WELL-ROUNDED
INDIVIDUALS.
THE CHAN FAMILY, OF SIU HONG COURT, TUEN MUN, BACKED UP THIS THEORY WITH THEIR OWN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.
WHEN THEY LIVED IN ONE ROOM IN WAN CHAI THE CHILDREN WERE KEPT IN AFTER SCHOOL.
AT SIU HONG COURT THE KIDS GO OUT TO USE THE MANY PLAY AND SPORTS FACILITIES, LIKE CHILDREN PLAYGROUNDS, BASKETBALL COURT. A SMALL FOOTBALL PITCH, BADMINTON COURT AND A JOGGING TRACK. MR CHAN DOES NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY ONLY MEET THE CHILDREN OF NEIGHBOURING FAMILIES.
BOTH CHILDREN ALSO GO OUT TO DO THE FAMILY SHOPPING AT THE COURT'S SHOPPING CENTRE, AND MR CHAN FINDS HIS DAUGHTER GENERALLY FINISHES HER HOMEWORK IN TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO GO FOR A HEALTHY WALK IN THE ESTATE'S SPACIOUS PARK.
MR CHAN HAS NOTICED THAT HIS SON, WHO USED TO BE WITHDRAWN AND SHY, HAS BECOME MUCH MORE CONFIDENT AND OUT-GOING SINCE THE FAMILY MOVED TO TUEN MUN. THE KIDS ARE ALSO TRAINED TO MORE SHOPPINGS IN THE ESTATE.
HE THINKS THAT OTHER PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE ADVANTAGES OF HOME OWNERSHIP ESTATE LIFE FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN.
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