Ideas For Bonding Over School Runs

As we kick off this school year, we want to encourage you to make the journey to and from school with your children more than just a trip. Whether we’re on the MRT and bus, or walking, it’s a chance for dads to bond with them. No screens, no distractions, just us and them.

Here are a few ways to make those moments count:

1️⃣ Start with the “Highs and Lows”

Ask about the best and worst parts of their day. Whether you’re standing in the MRT cabin or strolling through the neighbourhood, this simple question opens the door to real, honest conversations. And we just need to listen.

2️⃣ Share a Story

Tell them about something from your day or, better yet, something from your school days (cue flashback music). Stories build trust and give them a little window into your world.

3️⃣ Play a Quick Game

Turn the commute into a quick game of “I Spy” or “Would You Rather” (Example: Would you rather see 10 minutes or 150 years into the future?). It’s an easy, low-pressure way to connect and share a laugh, which makes the perfect start or end to a school day.

4️⃣ Plan Something Together

Talk about what you will do together over the weekend or what you will be cooking for dinner. When kids feel included in plans, they feel valued and that bond grows.

Let’s make that commute more than a trip. With a little intention, it becomes a memory. Or as Doc Brown said in Back to the Future, “Your future is whatever you make it. So, make it a good one.”

This article was written by Alsen Chanamuto,Centre for Fathering