Francis Ng (吳鎮宇) has earned the public’s respect with his positive parenting in the second season of Where Are We Going, Dad? <爸爸去哪兒>. According to the rules of the show, the children are not allowed to bring any toys or snacks to the rural areas, where they and their fathers would be spending for a few days. Francis’ 5-year-old son, Feynman Ng (吳費曼), was devastated when he was stripped of his toys. However, his father presented ways to make toys out of clothes hangers, grass, gloves, and other materials that were available. The father and son pretended that the clothes hanger was an instrument and performed a duet. When they were walking through the wilderness, Francis picked out grass on the road and weaved a hat for Feynman to wear. When Feynman was unhappy, Francis blew air into plastic gloves and played it off as a balloon, immediately cheering up his son. Francis practically grabbed every object in their house and made them into toys for Feynman to play with. Francis said in a later interview, “I believe that if you want to play, you’ll be able to make toys out of everything, from clothes hangers to plastic gloves. It doesn’t necessarily have to be high-tech. Technology makes life more convenient, but it can also make people lose concentration and be lazy. We must be creative. What’s the point of life if we lack creativity?” Netizens praised Francis’ practical mind and valor. They agreed that modern technology can make one “sick”, causing a person to become lazier and less independent. With the era of the Internet and the rise of social media, children have become less sociable, less patient, more needy, and more susceptible to distractions. By eliminating the luxuries of the high-tech life, viewers noted that Dad, Where Are We Doing? does have its educational value – to teach children about independence, modesty, and creativity. Creds: Sina
