Why Family Play Matters: Building Stronger, Healthier Bonds Through Movement

When it comes to raising active, resilient kids, the journey doesn’t start with school or sports classes — it starts at home. That’s why Active Parents, an initiative by Sport Singapore to empower parents to actively support their children’s sporting journey, is bringing back FunFam SportFest (FFSF) as its flagship family event. 

Designed as a celebration of movement and bonding, FFSF brings families together through sport tryouts, fun challenges, and interactive activity zones. At the heart of the event lies its guiding tagline, Play Together, Grow Together (PTGT)— a powerful reminder that when families move as one, they don’t just get active, they build deeper connections and grow stronger together.

The Power of Parent-Led Play

In Singapore, physical inactivity among children remains a concern. According to the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Singapore Report Card, only 44.4% of children and adolescents in Singapore meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

Rising screen time, exam stress, and passive leisure habits often crowd out opportunities to move. Yet the solution isn’t just about telling kids to exercise—it’s about showing them how. Leading by example through everyday movement is one of the most effective ways for parents to shape active behaviours. Simple acts like walking together, playing a quick game of frisbee, or dancing around the house can change a child’s relationship with activity.

Family Play as a Springboard for Growth

Physical activity or sports as a family activity strengthens ties and contributes to the overall well-being of the family. Being active together helps nurture a sense of belonging and community in the family, imparts values like self-discipline and sportsmanship, and is a way to improve children’s self-esteem.

MSF’s Advisory Panel on Parenting member A/P Mary Chong notes that “children whose
parents are supportive and set good examples are more likely to develop regular exercise
habits, and these children who are physically active in childhood continue tend to continue to
stay active into their teens and adulthood. It is thus important that we set a good and strong
foundation early in life.”

Beyond fitness, family play fosters communication, resilience, empathy, and teamwork. These soft skills, cultivated through sport, ripple into how children handle stress, setbacks, and social situations.

Singapore’s Playground of Possibilities

You don’t need to overhaul your life to raise active kids—just weave movement into your week. Some family-friendly ways to start include:

• Weekend walks or bike rides
  • A game of catch or football at the park
  • Enrolling in ActiveSG Academies and Clubs
  • Signing up for family-friendly fitness or dance classes
  • Attending Active Health Move Better workshops

Singapore has no shortage of accessible ActiveSG programmes, ActiveSG academies and clubs, and Active Health programmes and facilities that make integrating play into family routines not only possible, but exciting.

And at FFSF, families can experience many of these first-hand—from the Multi-Sport Skill Challenge to themed activity zones that celebrate the joy of movement!

Start Small, Start Together

Family play doesn’t have to be structured or time-consuming. It can be five minutes of silliness, ten minutes of stretching, or one spontaneous game of tag. What matters is the presence, not perfection.

By making movement part of family culture, we’re not just raising fitter kids—we’re nurturing stronger families. Because when families play together, they don’t just stay active. 

They grow, together.

➤ Join the Movement at FunFam SportFest 2025
Discover how your family can play and grow together at our flagship family event. 

FunFam SportFest 2025 is brought to you by Active Parents, in partnership with Families for Life, in support of the National Family Festival.

Follow @activeparentssg on Instagram for updates, or find out more at our event page here.