How Fatherhood Inspired The Polliwogs Founder To Start His Business

They say parenthood is a life-altering journey. For Mr Hariman Kwok, CEO and founder of The Seriously Fun Group, this could not be more true. Becoming a father of two shifted his priorities, as he wanted to spend more time and energy on something that would positively impact the lives of his children and other kids.

This is why when he noticed a lack of platforms for families to truly connect and have fun, he left his job in banking to open a family entertainment centre, The Polliwogs indoor playground, that could serve as an interactive space for kids to have fun and enjoy their childhood. 

“I took the leap and founded the Polliwogs in 2009. Our mission was clear: to positively impact people's lives through the power of fun,” he said. 

Learning to be an engaged father

The role every parent plays in the upbringing of their child often varies based on the needs of the child and the relationship they share with the parent. For Mr Kwok, fatherhood is no less than “being present and involved in significant milestones and everyday moments in [his] children’s lives”.

Mr Kwok is someone who consciously tries to be an engaged parent. As a father, he encourages his sons to “try new things, expand their horizons, and learn that the world is a beautiful place with much to offer in life.” He also greatly values spending meaningful time with his kids, making sure the family eats together at meals and prioritising the celebration of his sons’ important milestones.

Through fatherhood, he has learned to be more patient. He admits that he would initially feel stressed and blame himself when his kids cried. He added that he would “respond impatiently, telling them boys shouldn't cry and encouraging them to be stronger.”

Over time, he began to realise that their tears meant that something was genuinely bothering them. Instead of shutting them down, he took to offering them hugs and creating a space for his sons to share their thoughts and feelings. 

“It’s very important that my sons feel comfortable sharing their emotions with the family. After all, family is where true love and support are,” he said.

Defying stereotypical roles in parenting

We live in a society where more often than not, mothers continue to shoulder the bulk of responsibilities that come with parenthood and are expected to play the role of primary caregivers. Mr Kwok, however, believes that “fathers can be just as nurturing, loving, and capable caregivers as mothers”.

Caregivers should not be assigned by gender, according to him. “They should be based on individual traits like empathy, patience, communication skills, and the ability to meet a child's needs,” he said. This is also why Mr Kwok is the go-to parent for issues relating to teenhood for his sons relate to him more on that front. 

Reminding us that parenthood is not just a one-way road where parents impart knowledge and values to their kids, Mr Kwok shares that his close bonds with his sons helped him develop as a person, just as much it influenced the development of his children. 

Spending time with his children and trying to understand and cater to their needs has not only made him more adaptable but has also strengthened the emphasis he places on empathy and communication. This impact was so profound that it changed the outlook of his professional life where he now takes on “a more holistic and purpose-driven approach to running [his] businesses.”

Leaving banking to start his own business

Perhaps this explains the leap of faith he took, leaving a job in the banking sector to open his very own company, The Seriously Fun Group, that aims to provide outlets for fun to individuals of all age groups.

His entrepreneurship venture began with the founding of the kids’ indoor playground, The Polliwogs, in 2009. Mr Kwok shares that the immense joy and love his sons brought into his world inspired him to “create something meaningful and impactful, not just for the family but for the community as a whole.”

Becoming a father helped him realise that his true calling was in impacting families and children in his community and in the process contributing back to his own family too. Mr Kwok grew passionate about creating a space for parents and children to share meaningful interactions and take well deserved breaks.

“I wanted to provide a place where parents and children could bond, play, explore, and even give parents a well-deserved break when needed,” he says.

The ups and downs of an entrepreneurial venture 

Quitting a stable job to venture into business was certainly not an easy journey. The liberty of leaving their job to pursue one’s true passion is often not an option for most fathers. 

“Many face the social expectation of being the primary financial provider for the family. Most families also have dreams of moving up the social and financial ladder, and that expectation usually falls on the man of the house,” he says.

Mr Kwok shares that while he had to deal with his fair share of challenges, he remains grateful for the constant support he received from his family.

His family’s encouragement and acceptance allowed him to indulge in his passion and find ways to broaden the impact he could have on the community. This is why, when the pandemic opened his eyes to the mental health challenges adults have to grapple with everyday, he decided to do something about it. “We saw firsthand the benefits of play for children and wondered, why not create something similar for adults?” he said.

This led to the birth X-SCAP8, an integrated space open to individuals of all ages to have fun and relieve stress so that everyone can experience the joy of play.

He plans to expand his business in Singapore to become a household name that spreads happiness to families and to be a positive part of the growing-up journey.

Words of advice 

Equipped with years of experience attempting to strike a balance between his professional life and being a more engaged and present father, Mr Kwok has a few words of reassurance to all the fathers looking to do the same: “just be the best dad you can be.” 

“Unfortunately, not everyone will understand, and many dads make sacrifices that go recognized. But that's okay because being the best father will have a profound positive impact on your child and family.”

It may not be an easy transition, but just as the father of two says, as parents, “we get better each year.”