Malaysian families encouraged to take the '15 Minutes to Love' challenge

The '15 Minutes to Love' campaign encourages Malaysians to spend at least 15 minutes each day to intentionally connect with their family members. Photo: Pixabay

Focus on the Family Malaysia (FOFM), a non-profit organisation established in 1997 to help families thrive, and the National Population and Family Development Board of Malaysia (LPPKN) recently launched an eight-week nationwide campaign for Malaysian parents called 15 Minutes To Love.

In the programme, Malaysians are encouraged to spend at least 15 minutes each day to intentionally connect with their family members.

This is in response to Kuala Lumpur ranking fourth lowest among 40 major cities in the world in terms of work-life balance in the Best Cities for Work-Life Balance 2019 survey.

A 2020 study reveals that 33.4% of parents spend only an average of one to four hours per week playing with their children. Photo: Pixabay

In addition, it was revealed that in a study entitled One Third Of Malaysian Parents Only Spend Less Than Four Hours A Week Playing With Their Kids 2020, that 33.4% of parents spend only an average of one to four hours per week on unstructured playtime with their children.

A 2016 study entitled Malaysian Workers Aren’t Getting Enough Time With Their Families, also revealed that over six in 10 Malaysians are unable to spend enough quality time with their family.

FOFM embarked on the campaign to challenge Malaysians to spend at least 15 minutes a day or 1% of 24 hours to intentionally connect with their family. Parents with children aged four to 17 years, are encouraged to take this 30-day challenge to improve their relationship with their children.

A 2016 study reveals that over six in 10 Malaysians are unable to spend enough quality time with their family. Photo: Pixabay

The challenge provides 30 customised activities and conversation starters. Reminders are also provided so that participants won’t miss out on their daily family time.

Participants are encouraged to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #15MinutesToLove.

“Spending quality time is a challenge for many and we hope 15 minutes will be a start that will encourage us to intentionally spend even more time with our family, ” said FOFM executive director Benny Kong.

LPPKN director general Abdul Shukur Abdullah said: “We have the same vision for families in Malaysia and the campaign is in line with LPPKN’s ‘Kita Jaga Keluarga’ campaign in conjunction with the National Family month celebrated in November every year.”

For more information, go to: 15minutestolove.my