Zul Othman zul@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Some are learning how to be dads from films and television programmes.

A Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) parenting survey found 63 per cent of 2,220 respondents depend more on the mass media for parenting guidance. The study, released yesterday, also indicates that fathers happy with their wives tend to be more committed to their parental duty. But there seems to be a gap between the mindsets of paternal roles and their actual involvement. Which is why the National Family Council will launch the Dads for Life movement to support a man's role in co-parenting.

Driving this will be the new Fathers Action Network (FAN). Chairman Richard Seow, 47 - himself a father of four and the chairman of Parkway Holdings - admits that there are many organisations already engaging dads, but he believes the network can help men "assume increasingly diverse roles (beyond that of traditional breadwinner and disciplinarian) in co-parenting and modern life".

A series of activities will be organised as part of Dads for Life. For one, volunteers will distribute toolkits at more than 30 locations on International Men's Day on Thursday. The public can share personal stories on fatherhood by emailing them and we will publish these stories online to inspire and support parents. Zul Othman