Parenting Knows No Gender: International Families Gather at the Youth Department to Celebrate International Father’s Day!

Celebrating International Father’s Day and International Play Day, Taipei Youth Department Hosts 2025 Multinational Family Exchange

To mark International Father’s Day (the third Sunday of June) and International Play Day (June 11), the Taipei City Government’s Youth Development Department held the “2025 International Father’s Day: Multinational Youth Family Exchange” on June 15. Families from diverse countries gathered to participate in interactive parent-child games and cross-cultural dialogues, rethinking the roles of fatherhood and parenting together.

The event attracted dozens of families and featured an open-play exploration area and a panel discussion with three international speakers. Director General of the Youth Development Department, Chou Yi-Hsi, stated:

“We aim to be a partner for young caregivers, walking alongside them on their parenting journey. Because we believe that caring for children is not a gender-based responsibility, but a choice rooted in love and companionship. Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in a child’s growth.”

The three speakers included Stefan Hutter, Deputy Head of the Swiss Business Hub Taiwan; Yin Wei, Chairperson of Taipei City Government’s Research, Development and Evaluation Commission; and Dong Wei-Yen, writer and mountaineer dad. Each shared heartfelt reflections on their journey as fathers, emphasizing that

“Fatherhood should not be defined solely as a duty—it is also a right and a choice.”

Many heartwarming moments were captured during the event. Deputy Hutter was seen gently calming his sleepy toddler while guiding him through a cardboard maze—an authentic expression of active fatherhood.

Ivan, a play expert from Peru, became the “game star” among the children. He brought his 8-month-old baby to the toddler play zone and entertained the crowd with live guitar music. His giant teddy bear toy delighted the children and made parenting feel playful and joyful.

At the creative zone, one foreign dad was fully immersed in crafting a cardboard animal box while his daughter “supervised” him. They later decided to take the unfinished bear home to complete it together—extending the memory of their shared creative moment.

Through the 2025 International Father’s Day event, the Taipei Youth Development Department hopes to help families understand the true meaning of presence—from the child’s perspective—and build a bridge for intergenerational and intercultural understanding.

Contact:
Mr. Chen Chun-Hsien, Section Chief, International Development Division
Tel: +886-2-2351-4078 ext.1200

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