How frequent domestic helper changes might be destabilising Hong Kong’s children

Bertie Wai says given how important a secure relationship with a primary caregiver is to a child’s mental well-being, families must think carefully when they hire and fire domestic helpers

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Children benefit from having a stable primary caregiver. In Hong Kong, primary caregivers are often domestic helpers, in addition to parents and relatives. Photo: David Wong

Published: 4:27pm, 23 Apr 2018Updated: 8:41pm, 23 Apr 2018

The nerve-racking season of school applications is upon us. The internet is abuzz with application-oriented attention-grabbers: from school fairs and campus visits to information sessions and bustling forum discussions around the question that launches a thousand threads: “Which school is the best?”

While the word “best” is oversimplified and requires much contextualised elucidation, it is not unusual for such discussions to turn into a heated debate on “academic schools” versus “happy schools”. Against the backdrop of a highly competitive and seemingly deterministic academic landscape, our reductionist thinking goes: “If my kid can get into that school, salvation is guaranteed.” A friend once said: “The job of a parent is to worry.” Reassurance, however illusive, certainly makes it slightly easier to breathe.

In recent years, the landscape has changed. Academics no longer reign supreme. In light of the anxiety-provoking trend that mental health among Hong Kong children and teens is in decline, the “happy school” movement is blossoming. The way we identify the causes of the decline – intense academic pressure, the “tiger parent” phenomenon, and the lack of play time – fuels this movement.