Say No to Drugs – the Family Way

“Let’s go! Left, right, left, right.”
“Quick, grab that log for our space shuttle.”
“How about a pile of leaves – will it cushion the impact of a falling egg?”
“Oh no! Too heavy – move back, move back!”

With a flurry of movement, rapid commands and irrepressible laughter, teams dashed from point to point, seeking to outrun, outsmart and outdo each other to complete their tasks. This may sound like a fun-filled holiday camp for kids – but there were parents in the mix too. For two days during the recent June holidays, they got to spend a little quality time together at Sarimbun Camp in the rustic northwest of Singapore.

The occasion: a Parent-Kid Camp organised by the Central Narcotics Bureau. For the 33 families who attended the camp, it was an unforgettable weekend of games and activities to boost family ties and arm their spirits against the dangers of illegal drugs. “The camp was a good opportunity for me to get away from work and household chores, so I can spend uninterrupted quality time with my daughter,” says parent Mdm Rain Chen. “To me, parent-child bonding is a top priority.”

Mdm Chen found out about the camp from Mr Eric Chng, chairman of Unity Primary School’s Parent Support Group (PSG). She signed up with her daughter Angel Ong, who is in Pri 4. “I think it’s a great idea to use the outdoor camping experience to teach social skills, disseminate the anti-drug message, and foster parent-child bonding.”

Fighting drugs with strong families

During the camp, families worked in teams with other families in a whirlwind of activities, such as scrounging for raw materials to build a space shuttle and racking their brains to figure out how to protect a falling egg. They balanced on a 10-man seesaw, skipped rope in unison and marched in formation on long wooden “skis”. “The activities really brought us closer to our children as we had to work closely together,” quips Mdm Chen.

Besides the fun and games, the parents picked up tips from Central Narcotics Bureau staff on ways to safeguard their families from drug abuse, while the kids were taught to say no to peer pressure to try drugs. The overarching message was that strong family bonds are still the best weapon against drugs. As Mdm Chen puts it, “The parenting seminar reminded us that we have a big role to play in shaping our kids’ attitude towards drugs.”

Time was also set aside for private art and craft sessions where parents and children could work together on a common creative task. “We were asked to bring a family photo with us. As we worked on our photo frame, I talked to Angel about the picture, and we relived the sweet memories and fun times we had as a family,” recalls Mdm Chen. “It gave us the opportunity to communicate with each other, understand each other better, and strengthen family ties.”

Mdm Chen is so fired up by her experience at the camp that she hopes to plan a similar event at Unity Primary School, where she is the PSG’s project leader and parents’ facilitator. “I’ve discussed my ideas with Mr Chng, and I’m working on the proposal,” she reveals. “Hopefully, we can get the approval of the school, and kick off the first camp later this year!”