Free live-streamed videos launched for Hong Kong parents and children in mental wellness drive amid class suspensions caused by coronavirus

Content ranges from parent-child yoga exercises to family games, hosted by principals from kindergartens and other schools

Platform is part of bid to ensure mental well-being as people are forced to stay home in difficult times

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(From left) Michael Chan, principal; Elaine Tang, founder of Mamashare; and Paul Yip from HKU. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 9:30am, 10 Feb 2020Updated: 9:36am, 10 Feb 2020

A free live-streaming platform will be launched in Hong Kong on Monday to provide mental wellness support for parents and children amid the suspension of classes sparked by the coronavirus outbreak.

The platform, jointly initiated by the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, and parenting website Mameshare, will release a 30-minute video every weekday on Facebook.

Video topics range from parent-child yoga exercises to family games with music that parents can play with their children. The target audience are mostly primary school students and their parents, with sessions hosted by principals from kindergartens and other schools.

The programme is set to last three weeks until March 1, as school has been suspended until March 2 at the earliest.

Classes have been suspended in Hong Kong till March 2. Photo: Edmond So

Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the HKU centre, said he noticed frustration in some children who were forced to stay home.