The Straits Times
Republished with Permission
30 November 2025

Mr Aaron Ng, chief of growth at the charity Focus on the Family Singapore, and his pre-school educator wife, 44, have a three-year-old son, Caleb.

Mr Ng says: “The only television that Caleb has ever watched was the Red Lions parachuting segment in the National Day Parade 2025. Before he was born, we decided that we would parent our child with as little screen time as possible.

“Instead, we engage with him as much as possible in conversation, and ask him to greet people we meet. We play games like ‘I Spy’ on bus journeys, for example. Such observation games probably sharpen his awareness of the world around him. We once spotted a pair of sandals under a seat in a hawker centre.

“My wife and I have been geocaching as a couple since 2011. We thought, why don’t we introduce this to our son?”

Geocaching is a global treasure-hunting activity where participants use Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and navigation skills to find hidden containers, known as geocaches, which typically contain small items like a trinket or toy.

He adds: “Since November 2024, we’ve found at least 18 geocaches as a family. Similar to how screen time gives kids and adults a satisfying dopamine hit, geocaching is a means to get dopamine in a healthy way.

“When we find the geocache, we do a high-five and take photos to celebrate. It gives him a natural happy pill. There are times when we are unable to find a geocache, which gives me a chance to help him build resilience.”

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